After two and a half weeks of thrilling performances at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall, joined in the Final and Semifinal rounds by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and conductors Marin Alsop and Carlos Miguel Prieto, the jury of the Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (May 21–June 7, 2025) has announced the winners.
The 2025 Cliburn Competition broadcast received over 20 million views from a global audience in more than 145 countries.
MEDALISTS
NANCY LEE AND PERRY R. BASS GOLD MEDAL
Aristo Sham 沈靖韜, Hong Kong China, 29
The gold medalist also receives a cash award of $100,000; the Van Cliburn Winner's Cup; three years of individualized career management, including U.S. and international concert tours; a Platoon Records live album; a promotional package including press kits, videos, and website management; and performance attire provided by Neiman Marcus.
SILVER MEDAL
Vitaly Starikov Виталий Стариков, Israel/Russia, 30
The silver medalist also receives a cash award of $50,000; three years of individualized career management, including U.S. and international concert tours; a Platoon Records live album; and a promotional package including press kits, videos, and website management.
BRONZE MEDAL
Evren Ozel, United States, 26
The bronze medalist also receives a cash award of $25,000; three years of individualized career management, including U.S. and international concert tours; a Platoon Records live album; and a promotional package including press kits, videos, and website management.
OTHER AWARDS
The winner of the Beverley Taylor Smith Award for the Best Performance of a New Work, with a cash prize of $5,000, is Yangrui Cai 蔡阳睿, China, 24
Award made possible by a gift from Gordon William Smithᵈ*
The winner of the Best Performance of the Mozart Concerto Award, with a cash prize of $5,000, is Evren Ozel, United States, 26.
The winner of the John Giordano Jury Chairman Discretionary Award, with a cash prize of $4,000, is Mikhail Kambarov Михаил Камбаров, Russia, 24.
Award made possible by a gift from Mary D. and F. Howard Walshᵈ*
The winner of the Raymond E. Buck Jury Discretionary Award, with a cash prize of $4,000, is Jonas Aumiller, Germany, 26.
Award made possible by a gift from the Raymond E. Buck Foundation*
The winner of the Patricia and Neal Steffen Family Jury Discretionary Award, with a cash prize of $4,000, is Alice Burla, Canada, 28.
Award made possible by a gift from Patricia A. Steffen*
The Carla and Kelly Thompson Audience Award was determined by more than 9,000 votes. The Audience Award winner is Aristo Sham 沈靖韜, Hong Kong China, 29, who will receive a cash award of $2,500.
Award made possible by a gift from Carla and Kelly Thompson*
The remaining three finalists will each receive the Kleinheinz Family Finalist Award, with cash prizes of $10,000 each. They are Carter Johnson, Canada/United States, 28; Philipp Lynov Филипп Лынов, Russia, 26; and Angel Stanislav Wang, United States, 22.
Award made possible by a gift from Marsha H. and John B. Kleinheinz*
The semifinalists will receive cash awards of $5,000 each.
Award made possible by a gift from Charron and Peterᵈ Denker* and Louise Canafaxᵈ*
The quarterfinalists will receive cash awards of $2,500 each.
Preliminary Round competitors will receive cash awards of $1,000 each.
* Funded by a generous donation to the Cliburn Endowment.
ᵈ Deceased
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