The Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition welcomed 28 young pianists from around the world to the Opening Dinner & Draw Party on Monday evening, May 19, 2025, at The Worthington Renaissance Hotel in downtown Fort Worth.
The competitors, members of the Jury, and host families received a warm welcome from the city of Fort Worth. Featured speakers included Cliburn President and CEO Jacques Marquis, Chairman of the Board Jeffrey B. King, 1962 Gold Medalist Ralph Votapek, and Honorary Opening Dinner Chairmen Rozanne and Billy Rosenthal with a special tribute to longtime Cliburn supporter Roz Rosenthal.
After dinner, Ralph Votapek drew competitor names out of a chalice, Jacques Marquis read them out from the stage, and each pianist came forward to choose their order of play.
PERFORMANCE ORDER
1. Xuanxiang Wu, China, 18
2. Shangru Du, China, 27
3. Xiaofu Ju, China, 25
4. Ryota Yamazaki, Japan, 26
5. Federico Gad Crema, Italy, 26
6. Carter Johnson, Canada/United States, 28
7. David Khrikuli, Georgia, 24
8. Aristo Sham, Hong Kong, China, 29
9. Angel Stanislav Wang, United States, 22
10. Philipp Lynov, Russia, 26
11. Jonas Aumiller, Germany, 26
12. Magdalene Ho, Malaysia, 21
13. Roman Fediurko, Ukraine, 20
14. Mikhail Kambarov, Russia, 24
15. Callum McLachlan, United Kingdom, 26
16. Jiarui Cheng, China, 26
17. Piotr Alexewicz, Poland, 25
18. Alice Burla, Canada, 28
19. Yanjun Chen, China, 23
20. Jonathan Mamora, United States, 30
21. Evren Ozel, United States, 26
22. Sung Ho Yoo, South Korea, 28
23. Chaeyoung Park, South Korea, 27
24. Pedro López Salas, Spain, 27
25. Kotaro Shigemori, Japan, 25
26. Elia Cecino, Italy, 23
27. Yangrui Cai, China, 24
28. Vitaly Starikov, Israel/Russia, 30
This order of performance will remain the same for the pianists who advance to the Quarterfinal Round.
PRELIMINARY ROUND SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Preliminary Recital 1
10:05 a.m. – Xuanxiang Wu, China, 18
10:50 a.m. – Shangru Du, China, 27
20-minute intermission
11:50 a.m. – Xiaofu Ju, China, 25
Preliminary Recital 2
2:35 p.m. – Ryota Yamazaki, Japan, 26
3:20 p.m. – Federico Gad Crema, Italy, 26
20-minute intermission
4:20 p.m. – Carter Johnson, Canada/United States, 28
5:05 p.m. – David Khrikuli, Georgia, 24
Preliminary Recital 3
7:35 p.m. – Aristo Sham, Hong Kong, China, 29
8:20 p.m. – Angel Stanislav Wang, United States, 22
20-minute intermission
9:20 p.m. – Philipp Lynov, Russia, 26
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Preliminary Recital 4
10:05 a.m. – Jonas Aumiller, Germany, 26
10:50 a.m. – Magdalene Ho, Malaysia, 21
20-minute intermission
11:50 a.m. – Roman Fediurko, Ukraine, 20
Preliminary Recital 5
2:35 p.m. – Mikhail Kambarov, Russia, 24
3:20 p.m. – Callum McLachlan, United Kingdom, 26
20-minute intermission
4:20 p.m. – Jiarui Cheng, China, 26
5:05 p.m. – Piotr Alexewicz, Poland, 25
Preliminary Recital 6
7:35 p.m. – Alice Burla, Canada, 28
8:20 p.m. – Yanjun Chen, China, 23
20-minute intermission
9:20 p.m. – Jonathan Mamora, United States, 30
Friday, May 23, 2025
Preliminary Recital 7
10:05 a.m. – Evren Ozel, United States, 26
10:50 a.m. – Sung Ho Yoo, South Korea, 28
20-minute intermission
11:50 a.m. – Chaeyoung Park, South Korea, 27
Preliminary Recital 8
2:35 p.m. – Pedro López Salas, Spain, 27
3:20 p.m. – Kotaro Shigemori, Japan, 25
20-minute intermission
4:20 p.m. – Elia Cecino, Italy, 23
Preliminary Recital 9
7:35 p.m. – Yangrui Cai, China, 24
8:20 p.m. – Vitaly Starikov, Israel/Russia, 30
