November 1, 2023

The Cliburn is proud to announce that 2013 Cliburn finalist Fei-Fei will be returning to Fort Worth for a special Cliburn Pop-Up Concert on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at 8:00 PM inside the Trinity Room of The Post at River East. Single tickets are $45, with tables of four available for $150, and each are on sale now at cliburn.org. Doors open at 7:15 PM, and concert program starts at 8:00 PM.

October 16, 2023

Applications are now open for the Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, taking place May 21–June 7, 2025, at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities, ages 18–30 at the time of the event. (Applicants must have been born after June 7, 1994, and on or before May 21, 2007.) More information below or at cliburn.org/2025-application.

September 28, 2023

2022 Cliburn Silver Medalist Anna Geniushene’s new album Berceuse is out now on the Piano Classics record label. It features a collection of berceuses, cradle songs, and lullabies from 18 different composers, representing this traditional musical form across geographic boundaries, cultures, and eras. This deeply personal album also serves as a tribute to her two young sons Tomas and Mark, to whom this recording is dedicated.

The album (PCL10279) is now available worldwide on CD and through all download and streaming services.
The physical CD is available in the Cliburn Shop here.

Anna shares this insight into her recording selections:

“We remember, from when we were infants, these precious moments of being cuddled by our relatives who were always there for us. We might even remember their gentle voices, whispers, and breathing, and the smells of the place we were at that time. Once you become a parent, you are no longer the center of your own universe and have to concentrate all your resources on giving everything to your beloved children, particularly when they need extra comfort. So what can be more natural than a mother’s voice for this type of occasion? So we start to say something in a very gentle way, we may even sing some melodies, sometimes blending it with words directed and dedicated to our beloved ones. This is how the story of every ‘cradle song’ begins.

While designing this program, I was fascinated by the amount of this music which had never been recorded. My particular interest was in finding a way to promote compositions which could undoubtedly be named as hidden treasures of piano music.”

While competing in the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Anna was seven months pregnant with her second son, Mark. After three weeks of intense competition, she returned home to Lithuania, to her husband and their 1.5-year-old son Tomas, with the silver medal. Mark was born the following October. In the concert season since, she has embarked on a busy touring schedule, performing in top concert halls across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Her husband, Lukas Geniušas, is also a highly accomplished touring pianist.

August 10, 2023

Crescendo—the feature documentary that follows the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the discovery of sensation Yunchan Lim—makes its world premiere screenings this weekend at South Korea’s Jecheon International Music and Film Festival. Directed and produced by Heather Wilk in her directorial debut, the film is being met with early enthusiasm: the premiere screenings sold out in under two minutes.

AUD Present, the South Korean distributor behind arthouse titles such as Lamb, The Farewell, Moonlight, Mid90s, and Pavarotti, has acquired Crescendo, with plans to release it in theaters across South Korea this fall.

“It is an honor to partner with AUD Present,” said Wilk. “Their track record of sharing incredible films to Korean audiences is unparalleled. Our premiere in Korea marks just the beginning and we are excited to share our film with the rest of the world.”

“We are thrilled to work with the Crescendo team,” said AUD Present’s Sinae Kim. “As a distributor, introducing the great film is one of the highlights of our work. We cannot wait to see the audience enjoy and appreciate this special film.”

The film is now available for U.S. and worldwide distribution partnerships. Details on when and how to see it outside of South Korea will be announced later this year.

July 7, 2023

The highly anticipated gold-medal album for 2022 Cliburn winner Yunchan Lim is available now on the Steinway & Sons record label featuring the remastered live recording of his historic, complete performance of the Liszt Transcendental Etudes during the Competition’s Semifinal Round (performed June 10, 2022, at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, USA).

The album (STNS 30217) is now available worldwide on CD and through all download and streaming services.
The physical CD is available in the Cliburn Shop here.

The original announcement that Lim—at age 18, the youngest competitor—would play the entire monumental work for his 2022 Cliburn third-round recital “created a buzz throughout the international piano community;” and he delivered, with a performance defined by “intelligent virtuosity and total immersion into Liszt’s idiom [that] truly defined transcendental” (Gramophone). In addition to the ecstatic audience in person that day and the 4 million people who have watched it online since, the critics were universally enraptured: “Lim displayed mind-boggling virtuosity and interpretive depth scarcely imaginable in one so young. In the semifinal round, he gave as brilliant a performance as you’ll ever hear of Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes, containing some of the hardest music ever composed for piano” (Dallas Morning News). Now fans around the globe can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime concert for many years to come.

June 17, 2023

After 12 days of thrilling competition at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and this afternoon’s Final Round Concert with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and conductor Valentina Peleggi at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the winners of the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival were announced on Saturday evening.

The Winners

 Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize
cash award of $15,000
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea

Shirley Cox McIntyre Second Prize
cash award of $10,000
Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China

The Horchow Family Third Prize
cash award of $5,000
Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia

Each finalist will also receive $2,500 scholarships that must be spent toward furthering their musical advancement.

Other Awards

Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea

Zihan Jin 金子涵, 14, China
Modan Oyama 大山桃暖, 17, Japan
Zhonghua Wei 魏中华, 14, China

Online viewership for the 2023 Cliburn Junior webcast topped 1.2 million views in 122 Countries, nearly doubling the 2019 Cliburn Junior total of 650,000 views.

June 15, 2023

Janina Fialkowska, chairman of the Jury for the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival (taking place June 8–17, 2023, at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and Meyerson Symphony Center) is proud to announce the three pianists advancing to the Final Round. The Final Round will take place this Saturday, June 17, beginning at 2:30 p.m. CDT, at Meyerson Symphony Center, where each finalist will perform a full concerto with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Valentina Peleggi.

Tickets to attend the Final Round in person are on sale now at Cliburn.org. The concert will also be streamed live and available on demand at Cliburn.org, YouTube.com/thecliburn, Hyfi.com, and Amadeus.tv (in China).

The Finalists

Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea
Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia
Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China

Final Round Schedule

Final Round Concert  I  2:30 PM

Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia – SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22

Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China – CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11

20-MINUTE INTERMISSION

Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea – RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43

June 11, 2023

Janina Fialkowska, chairman of the Jury for the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival(taking place June 8–17, 2023, at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and Meyerson Symphony Center) is proud to announce the six pianists advancing to the Semifinal Round, which will take place in two phases.

• Phase I (Wednesday, June 14): The six semifinalists each perform a 40-minute recital, to include one work written by a living composer and a substantial work of at least 16-minutes.

• Phase II (Thursday, June 15): 6 competitors perform one concerto movement with piano accompaniment by Mikhail Berestnev and Anastasia Markina.

The Semifinalists:

Due to a fire alarm in the venue, we have paused tonight’s Quarterfinal Round concert of the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival. Our last quarterfinalist, Modan Oyama, will complete his performance tonight for the jurors only, and that piece will be recorded and shared online for on-demand viewing. The jury will then vote to select the six semifinalists and those results will be announced in writing on Cliburn.org and across social media later this evening. Thank you for your understanding.

June 9, 2023

Janina Fialkowska, chairman of the Jury for the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival(taking place June 8–17, 2023, at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and Meyerson Symphony Center) tonight announced the 12 pianists advancing to the Quarterfinal Round.

The Quarterfinalists

Eddison Chen, 13, United States
Alyssa Gabrilovich, 17, United States
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea
Zihan Jin 金子涵, 14, China
Tiankun Ma 马天坤, 16, China
Modan Oyama 大山桃暖, 17, Japan
Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia
Sizhe Wang 王思哲, 14, China
Taige Wang, 13, United States
Zhonghua Wei 魏中华, 14, China
Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China
Yiran Zhou 周怡然, 15, China

Quarterfinal Round Schedule

Saturday, June 10, 2023
Quarterfinal Round Concert 1  I  2:30 PM
2:30 p.m. – Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia
3:02 p.m. – Yiran Zhou 周怡然, 15, China
20-MINUTE INTERMISSION
3:52 p.m. – Eddison Chen, 13, United States

Quarterfinal Round Concert 2  I  7:00 PM
7:00 p.m. – Zhonghua Wei 魏中华, 14, China
7:32 p.m. – Taige Wang, 13, United States
20-MINUTE INTERMISSION
8:22 p.m. – Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea

Sunday, June 11, 2023
Quarterfinal Round Concert 3  I  2:30 PM
2:30 p.m. – Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China
3:02 p.m. – Tiankun Ma 马天坤, 16, China
20-MINUTE INTERMISSION
3:52 p.m. – Alyssa Gabrilovich, 17, United States

Quarterfinal Round Concert 4  I  7:00 PM (followed by the announcement of the Semifinalists)
7:00 p.m. – Sizhe Wang 王思哲, 14, China
7:32 p.m. – Zihan Jin 金子涵, 14, China
20-MINUTE INTERMISSION
8:22 p.m. – Modan Oyama 大山桃暖, 17, Japan

June 1, 2023

On July 7, 2023, the Steinway & Sons label will release the anticipated gold-medal album for 2022 Cliburn winner Yunchan Lim: the remastered live recording of his historic, complete performance of the Liszt Transcendental Etudes during the Competition’s Semifinal Round (performed June 10, 2022, at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, USA).

The album (STNS 30217) will be available worldwide on CD and through all download and streaming services. It is also currently available for pre-order in the Cliburn Shop: shop.cliburn.org.

The original announcement that Lim—at age 18, the youngest competitor—would play the entire monumental work for his 2022 Cliburn third-round recital “created a buzz throughout the international piano community;” and he delivered, with a performance defined by “intelligent virtuosity and total immersion into Liszt’s idiom [that] truly defined transcendental” (Gramophone). In addition to the ecstatic audience in person that day and the 4 million people who have watched it online since, the critics were universally enraptured: “Lim displayed mind-boggling virtuosity and interpretive depth scarcely imaginable in one so young. In the semifinal round, he gave as brilliant a performance as you’ll ever hear of Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes, containing some of the hardest music ever composed for piano” (Dallas Morning News). Now fans around the globe can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime concert for many years to come.

May 9, 2023

The third edition of the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival, taking place June 8–17, 2023 in Dallas, Texas USA at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and the Meyerson Symphony Center, will be streamed live online from the first note to the announcement of the new 2023 winner.

The Cliburn was a pioneer in the early days of webcasting, and it continues to innovate and expand this vital program as a global leader in the field; the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was the first classical music competition in the world to broadcast in 4K HDR and has become one of the most-watched classical music events in history, with more than 40 million views.

The 2023 Cliburn Junior webcast promises the same high level of quality of sound and picture; a compelling, immersive program around the performances that gives viewers behind-the-scenes access and insightful commentary; and a wide selection of ways to watch. Viewership is expected to top 3 million.

Viewers around the world can watch the entire Competition live and on demand at Cliburn.org and youtube.com/thecliburn. On the Cliburn homepage, the public can also place their votes for the Audience Award, whose winner will be awarded a cash prize of $500 at the Awards Ceremony on June 17. Beginning June 8, 2023, audiences can vote once a day for their favorite candidate. Voting closes on June 17, 2023.

In China, the complete stream will be available on multiple channels by Amadeus.tv, including its website, WeChat (MusicToday), and Weibo.

The 2023 Cliburn Junior will be available in 4K HDR. Beginning today, viewers can subscribe at hyfi.live/vancliburn to experience the next best thing to being in the concert hall. Subscribers can watch via the HFYI app on iOS, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku. Subscription packages will be available at $90 for six months, and $125 for one year.

Premium subscribers on HYFI will also have access to the entire 2022 Cliburn Competition—including Gold Medalist Yunchan Lim’s 임윤찬 historic performance of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3—in 4K and surround sound, as well as remastered recital performances from past winners, including Vadym Kholodenko, Beatrice Rana, Haochen Zhang, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Yeol Eum Son, and more over the coming months.

Learn more here: https://cliburn.org/junior-webcast/

December 15, 2022

The Cliburn announces the jury for the third edition of the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival, for exceptional pianists age 13–17, taking place June 8–17, 2023, in Dallas, Texas, at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The 24 pianists invited to compete, as well as 14 additional non-competing festival participants, will be chosen through online applications (open now and due January 10, 2023), including a 15–20 minute video audition. Competitors will be announced March 28, 2023. Tickets and subscription packages will go on sale January 10, 2023.

Janina Fialkowska, renowned Canadian pianist, will serve as jury chairman.

2023 JUNIOR COMPETITION JURY

• Janina Fialkowska, jury chairman (Canada)
• Jane Coop (Canada)
• Adam Golka (USA/Poland)
• Carol Leone (USA)
• Anton Nel (South Africa/USA)
• Roberto Plano (Italy)
• Katia Skanavi (Greece/Russia)
• Jeffrey Swann (USA)
• Orion Weiss (USA)

Italian conductor Valentina Peleggi will lead the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in the Final Round concert as the finalists each perform a full concerto.

October 16, 2022

Pamela Mia Paul, chairman of the Jury of the Eighth Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, for non-professional pianists age 35 and older (taking place October 12–18, 2022, at Van Cliburn Recital Hall and Bass Performance Hall), tonight announced the six pianists advancing to the Final Round.

The artists—who are also who are also a marketing director, a software engineer, a clinical project manager, a CEO, a retired neuro-opthalmologist, and a business development manager—will live out their dreams on Tuesday, October 18 beginning at 7:00 p.m. when they take the Bass Performance Hall stage and perform one movement of a concerto each with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and beloved conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya. Orchestra-level tickets start at $25 and are on sale now at cliburn.org/2022-amateur-tickets.

The 2022 Cliburn Amateur Finalists

Xavier Aymonod, Marketing Director – Public Transportation, 46, France
Jon Lee, Software Engineer, 41, United States
Masanori Murakami, Clinical Project Manager, 38, Japan
Dominique Salloum, CEO – Artificial Intelligence Industry, 53, France/Lebanon
Michael Slavin, Neuro-Ophthalmologist (retired), 71, United States
Dmytro Vynogradov, Business Development Manager, 52, Ukraine

Final Round Schedule

Tuesday, October 18, 2022
7:00 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall
with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya

Jon Lee, Software Engineer, 41, United States
PROKOFIEV Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26 (III)

Michael Slavin, Neuro-Ophthalmologist (retired), 71, United States
BEETHOVEN Concerto No. 1 in C Major, op. 15 (I)

Xavier Aymonod, Marketing Director – Public Transportation, 46, France
PROKOFIEV Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26 (III)

intermission

Masanori Murakami, Clinical Project Manager, 38, Japan
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26 (III)

Dmytro Vynogradov, Business Development Manager, 52, Ukraine
TCHAIKOVSKY Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, op. 23 (III)

Dominique Salloum, CEO – Artificial Intelligence Industry, 53, France/Lebanon
PROKOFIEV Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26 (III)

September 29, 2022

The eighth edition of the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, for non-professional pianists age 35 and older, begins two weeks from yesterday and will run from October 12 to 18, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas at Van Cliburn Recital Hall (300 E. 4th Street) and Bass Performance Hall (4th & Calhoun Streets).

Announced today are the order of play for the Preliminary Round and the full roster of free festival events that are open to the public. Full details are below.

“We are so pleased to finally be able to welcome these outstanding pianists—who have been preparing for this moment for many years now—to Fort Worth,” said Jacques Marquis, Cliburn president and CEO. “The week will be memorable as this extraordinary community comes together to be inspired by each other and to compete to be one of six finalists who will have the unique Cliburn experience of performing on the Bass Hall stage with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya on October 18!”

August 11, 2022

The Cliburn announces today the new details of the eighth edition of the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, for non-professional pianists age 35 and older. Originally scheduled for May 2020 and postponed due to the pandemic, the Amateur Competition will now take place October 12–18, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. Below are the key elements, many altered due to the rescheduling.

“We are so pleased to finally be able to welcome these outstanding pianists—who have been preparing for this moment for many years now—to Fort Worth,” said Jacques Marquis, Cliburn president and CEO. “The week will be memorable as this extraordinary community comes together to be inspired by each other and to compete to be one of six finalists who will have the unique Cliburn experience of performing on the Bass Hall stage with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.”

June 18, 2022

After two and half weeks of high-level competition and exceptional music-making, the winners of the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition were announced tonight by Jury Chair Marin Alsop at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas USA.

“Sixty years ago, inspired by Van Cliburn’s legacy, the first Cliburn Competition was held,” said Jacques Marquis, Cliburn president and CEO. “It had two main objectives: to discover and support young, exceptional artists, and to bring this beautiful music to the world. Today, we’re proud to say that these have both held true with this sixteenth edition. It brought us all together for a glorious 17 days that knew no boundaries, for a moving celebration of great music. These pianists have been truly inspirational.”

Commenting on his win Jury Chair Marin Alsop said, “It has been inspiring to witness a talent of Yunchan’s magnitude. All finalists showed exceptional musicality and artistry, yet Yunchan stood out among them. Throughout these last three weeks, but particularly his spectacular performance of Rachmaninov’s third piano concerto showed that even at the age of 18 he already exhibits exceptional depth and dazzling technique. I look forward to seeing him develop in the years to come and our future collaborations.”

The winner of the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Gold Medal and the Van Cliburn Winner’s Cup is Yunchan Lim, South Korea, 18

Yunchan Lim, the gold medalist, will receive a cash award of $100,000; three years individualized career management, including U.S. and international concert tours; Steinway Recording Prize Studio Album; promotional package including press kits, videos; website; performance attire provided by Neiman Marcus
Award made possible by a gift from Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass^d*

The silver medalist is Anna Geniushene, Russia, 31, who will receive a cash award of $50,000; three years individualized career management and U.S. concert tours; promotional package including press kits, videos, website; and performance attire
Awarded by Mr. and Mrs. Fuller French and Family in honor of Adelaide Polk Fuller

The bronze medalist is Dmytro Choni, Ukraine, 28, who will receive a cash award of $25,000; three years individualized career management and U.S. concert tours; promotional package including press kits, videos, website; performance attire.
Awarded by the Mollie and Garland Lasater Charitable Fund at the North Texas Community Foundation

The remaining three finalists will receive cash awards of $10,000 each. They are Uladzislau Khandohi, Belarus, 20; Ilya Shmukler, Russia, 27; Clayton Stephenson, United States, 23
Awards made possible by a gift from Mr. and Mrs. John B. Kleinheinz*, Janny and Warren Strickland Schwab Charitable, and Juana-Rosa and Ron^d Daniell

The Cliburn 2022 webcast broke previous Cliburn streaming records with a global online audience of over 9 million following the Competition in more than 170 countries.

As part of the Cliburn’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian National Anthem was performed in the Awards Ceremony by Kyiv-born 2013 Cliburn Gold Medalist Vadym Kholodenko.

OTHER AWARDS

Award for the Best Performance of a Mozart Concerto, with a cash prize of $5,000, was awarded to Ilya Shmukler.
Awarded by Anton Nel

The Beverley Taylor Smith Award for the Best Performance of a New Work, with a cash prize of $5,000, was awarded to Yunchan Lim.
Award made possible by a gift from the Estate of Gordon William Smith*

The winner of the John Giordano Jury Chairman Discretionary Award, with a cash prize of $4,000, is Marcel Tadokoro, France/Japan, age 28.
Award made possible by a gift from Mary D. and F. Howard Walsh^d*

The winner of the Raymond E. Buck Jury Discretionary Award, with a cash prize of $4,000, is Andrew Li, United States, age 22.
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 Changyong Shin, South Korea, age 28.
Award made possible by a gift from Patricia A. Steffen*

The Carla and Kelly Thompson Audience Award presented by medici.tv was determined by more than 13,400 votes from 84 countries to cliburn.medici.tv. The Audience Award winner, Yunchan Lim will receive a cash award of $2,500.
Award made possible by a gift from Carla and Kelly Thompson*

The semifinalists will receive cash awards of $5,000 each.

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

June 12, 2022

Marin Alsop, chairman of the Jury for the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (taking place June 2–18, 2022, at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall) tonight announced the six pianists advancing to the Final Round.

FINAL ROUND
6 competitors perform two concertos, to be selected from two separate lists, with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop.
Tuesday, June 14 – Wednesday, June 15, 2022 I 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2022 I 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 18, 2022 I 3:00 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022

Final Round Concert 1

7:30 p.m.
Yunchan Lim, South Korea, 18 – BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, op. 37
Ilya Shmukler, Russia, 27 – RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30
20-minute intermission
Clayton Stephenson, United States, 23– GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F Major

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

Final Round Concert 2

7:30 p.m.
Uladzislau Khandohi, Belarus, 20 – RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, op. 18
Anna Geniushene, Russia, 31 – BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, op. 15
20-minute intermission
Dmytro Choni, Ukraine, 28 – PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

Final Round Concert 3

7:30 p.m.
Clayton Stephenson, United States, 23 – RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30
Ilya Shmukler, Russia, 27 – GRIEG Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 16
20-minute intermission
Yunchan Lim, South Korea, 18 – RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

Final Round Concert 4

3:00 p.m.
Dmytro Choni, Ukraine, 28 – BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, op. 37
Uladzislau Khandohi, Belarus, 20 – CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11
20-minute intermission
Anna Geniushene, Russia, 31 – TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, op. 23

AWARDS CEREMONY
Saturday, June 18, 2022 I 7:00 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

May 11, 2022

The Cliburn is thrilled to announce the commission of its first-ever mural. Through partnership with the SoMa Development and Near Southside Arts, the organization has selected Texas-based, internationally renowned artist DAAS to create a new work, “Chromesthesia,” at 113 S. Main St. The mural is a lasting gift to the city of Fort Worth and a celebration of both the Cliburn’s 60^th Anniversary and the sixteenth edition of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, taking place June 2–18, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas USA.

MURAL UNVEILING & SUNDAY FUNDAY

Sunday, May 22, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

The public is invited to celebrate the new mural in this free event, the surprise conclusion of the organization’s Countdown to the Cliburn series of community concerts around North Texas.

DAAS and Cliburn President and CEO Jacques Marquis will make remarks and be available for comment afterwards. 2017 Cliburn Bronze Medalist Daniel Hsu will perform a short program. Guests are invited to stay for Sunday Funday, featuring a cash bar with margaritas, wine, and beer for sale from Tinies in the neighboring micropark.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Cliburn has a longstanding tradition of collaboration with outstanding visual artists. For the 2022 Competition, it commissioned this large-scale mural—a first in its 60-year history—in Fort Worth’s vibrant Near Southside, as a lasting gift to the supportive citizens of its hometown. Located at the corner of S. Main St. and Vickery Blvd. in the historic SoMa District that includes an active micropark, “Chromesthesia” will serve as a backdrop for concerts and other events in the years to come.

ABOUT DAAS

DAAS is a contemporary artist, internationally recognized for his vibrant, engaging paintings and murals. Based in Austin, Texas, DAAS’ mural work utilizes a combination of abstract and representational imagery, driven by a distinct color palette and design aesthetic which incorporates bold shapes and organic forms saturated in vivid colors, to create larger-than-life artworks focused on bringing a sense of beauty and inspiration into the surrounding space.

His artwork and murals can be seen around the world in countries such as: Japan, China, Portugal, Italy, Jordan, USA, Nepal, and the Dominican Republic. This is his first project in Fort Worth.

“I believe the purpose of public art is for the enjoyment of everyone and consider it to be an inherent responsibility of myself as a public artist to make a sincere effort in understanding the community and environment in which the artwork will reside; in order to reflect the values of the people who live there and will view the work on a daily basis. Through my artwork, I hope to inspire, encourage and most importantly, create something that will be beneficial to the wellbeing of the community.” – DAAS

ABOUT SOMA

SoMa Development is a collection of historic and industrial buildings that have been adapted to meet modern uses. Today they are home to a collection of the Near Southside’s most recognizable retailers and storefronts, including Morgan Mercantile, Tarantula Tiki Lounge, Panther City Tattoo, Southside Cellar, WED Bridal Boutique, Brix BBQ, Big Kat Burgers, and South Barbershop. Tinies Mexican Cuisine is located in the historic two-story restaurant that abuts the SoMa Development’s most recognizable feature, the South Main Micropark, a small privately owned community space offering picnic tables, a raised sandbox, artistic climbing structures, the iconic Art Tooth shipping container with its rotating art installations, and the Crunchy Girl Granola Airstream trailer. Owner Lori Powers Henderson is the great-great-granddaughter of W.A. Powers, who purchased the buildings in 1939, beginning the W.A. Powers Company and Package Conveyor Company. The properties have been in the Powers family for four generations.

ABOUT NEAR SOUTHSIDE, INC. + NEAR SOUTHSIDE ARTS

Near Southside Arts (NSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing community and cultural initiatives benefiting Fort Worth’s 1,400 acre Near Southside district since 1987. NSA is aligned in mission and governance with Near Southside, Inc. (NSI), a 501(c)(4) membership organization leading economic and community development initiatives since 1996. Both organizations share a 53-member board of directors, officers, and staff.

Near Southside, Inc.’s membership roster includes 400 dues-paying businesses and individuals, representing a cross-section of district stakeholders and community-minded leaders. The majority of member businesses are headquartered within the Near Southside district boundary, and the remaining members regularly work in the district, either on development projects or in partnership with district businesses. This membership roster has grown and diversified significantly in recent years, with major growth in the creative sector. All of the district’s economic anchor institutions and businesses are long-standing top-level members, including the six major healthcare campuses and other major corporations located within the district.

www.nearsouthsidefw.org

March 3, 2022

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is reprehensible and heartbreaking. The Cliburn stands firmly against and condemns this tyranny. The Russian-born pianists who have applied for the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition are not officials of their government, nor is their participation in the Cliburn state-sponsored. Therefore, in the vision of our namesake and inspiration, Van Cliburn, and our mandate to support young artists—which is the very core of our mission—the Russian-born pianists will be allowed to audition for the Cliburn Competition.

The story of Van Cliburn and his Cold War victory at the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow inspired the world as a testament to the transcendence of art, even at the most tense of times between two superpowers. As he himself said: “Since we know that classical music is timeless and everlasting, it is precisely the eternal verities inherent in classical music that remain a spiritual beacon for people all over the world.”

Of the 72 pianists invited to take part in next week’s Screening Auditions for the 2022 Cliburn Competition, 15 are Russian-born; eight of those currently reside in Moscow. These young, brilliant artists have worked their way through an intense and complicated situation to ensure they would be able to come to Fort Worth for their chance to compete on one of classical music’s biggest stages—for their chance to live their dreams.

They have spent the better part of their lives preparing for this opportunity. The stakes are high. One of our current applicants sent us this note this week: “I hope that the great positive impact Maestro Van Cliburn had on the course of the Cold War should be an excellent example for all the artists.” And another: “I pray we give music a chance to be the ambassador of peace and love it has always been.” We look forward to hearing each of our participants do just that.

September 16, 2021

The Cliburn’s popular Pop-Up Concert series returns this fall with 2013 Cliburn finalist Fei-Fei on Saturday, October 2, 2021, and violin/piano duo Charles Yang and Peter Dugan on Saturday, November 6, 2021, in the outdoor courtyard at The Post at River East (2925 Race Street), both at 5:00 & 7:30 p.m. Individual tickets are on sale now for $35 at Cliburn.org/pop-up-concerts and are also available as part of the Cliburn Essentials hybrid subscription package.

“This series launched last fall as a fresh way to bring our community together for live music,” said Jacques Marquis, Cliburn president and CEO. “People have loved the atmosphere so much that we’ve sold out every concert. It’s been another step to bringing classical music to new audiences: Texas skies, exceptional artists, and a nice drink—what could be better!”

On September 30, 2021, the Cliburn will announce a spring return to the Cliburn Concerts format, though with marked changes—including a mix of traditional venues like the Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth with more casual outdoor venues, due to the overwhelmingly positive response.

Cliburn Pop-Up Concerts are sponsored by Sewell Automotive Companies.

August 31, 2021

The Cliburn is pleased to announce that individual tickets will go on sale tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. CT, September 1, for the sixteenth edition of its flagship Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, to be held entirely in person on June 2–18, 2022, at Bass Performance Hall and Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU, in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

All individual tickets will be available online at Cliburn.org or by telephone at 817.212.4280 starting at 10:00 a.m. Subscription packages remain on sale including premium, complete, and individual round subscriptions at Cliburn.org/2022-tickets. Patrons must be 10 years or older to attend.

July 8, 2021

The Cliburn announces the all-new 2021 Cliburn Summer Series at TX Whiskey Ranch, featuring two concerts: 2005 Cliburn Silver Medalist and Fort Worth favorite Joyce Yang on July 29, and violinist with a bluegrass flair, Tessa Lark, in her Cliburn concert debut on August 12.

Each of these casual, intimate concerts begin at 8:00 p.m. and will take place on the gorgeous lawn at TX Whiskey Ranch (4250 Mitchell Blvd, 76119). Tickets are limited and are on sale now for $35 each or $50 for a 2-concert package. Patrons must be 21 or older to attend.

Attendees should bring their blankets and chairs for relaxed lawn seating. They can enjoy delicious TX Whiskey cocktails and dinner from local food trucks. The venue will open at 6:00 p.m., and patrons are encouraged to arrive early to allow time for refreshments and shopping in the Ranch store, which will feature special-edition Cliburn TX Whiskey bottles. No outside food or drink is allowed.

PURCHASE SUMMER SERIES TICKETS HERE

CLIBURN CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT

September 13, 2021  I  1:00 PM
River Crest Country Club
Rebecca and Reese Hillard, Chairmen
Cornelia Blake, Honorary Chairman

Join us for the Cliburn’s first-ever golf tournament hosted at the beautiful River Crest Country Club, and benefitting the sixteenth edition of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. This best ball tournament will have a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start and will feature prizes and contests, such as longest drive, closest to hole, and a “Hole-in-One” car, provided by Sewell Automotive Companies.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

February 4, 2021

The Cliburn announces today the eighth edition of the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, for non-professional pianists age 35 and older, will take place October 12–18, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas, at Bass Performance Hall and PepsiCo Recital Hall at TCU. This edition had previously been scheduled for May 2020.

Competitors selected to compete in 2020—who represent 18 countries and range in age from 35 to 69—will be offered their places to participate in the 2022 Amateur Competition. Should any competitors decline, preselected alternates from the 2020 applicant pool will  be invited as competitors. In the event that there are still positions open, applications will be reopened in July 2021. A confirmed competitor list will be announced in July 2022.

2022 AMATEUR COMPETITION FACTS

• Ralph Votapek, gold medalist of the First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1962, will serve as jury chairman. The jury comprises: Alessandro Deljavan (Italy), Carol Leone (United States), Alex McDonald (United States), Valery Kuleshov (Russia); and Pamela Mia Paul (United States). An additional juror will be announced at a later date.
• Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will perform with each of six finalists under the baton of acclaimed conductor Damon Gupton.
• Semifinal and Final Round performances will be webcast live at Cliburn.org. 
• Tickets to attend the Amateur Competition will go on sale in spring 2022.

ABOUT THE CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR PIANO COMPETITION

Inaugurated in 1999, the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition was the first event of its kind in the United States. Hailed by the Boston Globe as “a celebration of music, and the people who have to make music no matter what,” it was established at the behest of the late Nela Rubinstein, wife of legendary pianist Arthur Rubinstein. The contest highlights the importance of music-making in everyday life and provides a forum for musicians age 35 and older who do not perform, teach, or compose piano music for their primary professional pursuit or financial benefit. The quadrennial competition brings together the best amateur pianists from around the world for seven days of performances, symposia, and social events.

ROUNDS & REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

PRELIMINARY ROUND (PepsiCo Recital Hall, TCU)
October 12–14, 2022

48 competitors will each present a solo recital not to exceed 15 minutes in length, of repertoire of their choosing.

SEMIFINAL ROUND (PepsiCo Recital Hall, TCU)
October 15–16, 2022

20 competitors will each present a solo recital not to exceed 28 minutes in length, of repertoire of their choosing.

FINAL ROUND (Bass Performance Hall)
October 18, 2022

6 competitors will each perform one concerto movement, selected from a list, with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Damon Gupton.

NON-COMPETING PARTICIPANTS (NEW THIS EDITION)

An additional 24 pianists have been selected as non-competing participants. They will play up to 15 minutes for comments from jurors (recitals will be free and open to the public) and participate in other activities and festival events.

For Amateur Competition participant questions, please contact us by email at mbellinson@cliburn.org

AMATEUR COMPETITION LINKS
JURY  I  ROUNDS & REPERTOIRE  I  ARTISTIC COLLABORATORS

September 15, 2020

The Cliburn launches its expanded, robust online music education program for elementary-school students: Cliburn Kids. Created as a resource for school districts, teachers, and parents, the initiative includes 27 lesson plans to date, each with a 7- to 10-minute video, and corresponding individual and class activities that meet objectives of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The Cliburn will release new episodes and lesson plans every Tuesday of the 2020–2021 school year, beginning today, for a total of more than 50 by May 2021.

All lesson plans and videos are housed at the Cliburn Kids website at Cliburn.org/kids, where parents, teachers, and students can easily find resources by musical learning category and activity subject areas.

Last spring, we created our Cliburn Kids series as a response to the global pandemic, when children around the world had to adjust quickly to being at home,” said Jacques Marquis, Cliburn President and CEO. “Music education is integral to the Cliburn’s mission. Normally, we would be producing 300 in-school Cliburn in the Classroom programs in the North Texas area this year, which is not possible right now. With Cliburn Kids, we’re able to provide an extensive resource to educators and students everywhere, regardless of their current learning environment. We think this initiative has great growth potential and are excited to continue to add to its depth and reach this school year.

ABOUT CLIBURN KIDS

For our youngest Cliburn friends! Cliburn Kids is a (growing!) collection of wonderfully entertaining videos designed to introduce children to the fun of classical music. How does music paint pictures, tell stories, express feelings? How can music help teach about other school subjects? Host Buddy Bray and guest artists use individual pieces to explore topics that delve into the way music is organized and structured, counting and rhythm, expressive elements, and sometimes just lighthearted enjoyment!

Programs are geared towards elementary-aged children, and activities are provided for each episode that are perfect for in-classroom or at-home studies. Twenty-seven episodes are currently available, and a new episode will be added weekly on Tuesdays. Each episode page has links to the supplemental activities, as well as TEKS objectives for each.

Cliburn Kids programs are based on Cliburn in the Classroom curriculum, written by Dr. John Feierabend and Buddy Bray.

ABOUT BUDDY BRAY

Shields-Collins “Buddy” Bray is co-author of the Cliburn in the Classroom programs and has been hosting the presentations in schools for over 15 years, and he says it is the most enjoyable work he does. He is the host of the Cliburn Kids series and plays an integral part in its development.

When he is not in the schools talking about music, Mr. Bray serves as artistic director of the Cliburn at the Modern series and is the principal keyboardist for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Bray also hosts the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s pre-concert discussion series, where he does much the same thing as in the schools—he tries to make his audience comfortable with the music they will hear, and he does it with a spirit of discovery and fun.

Mr. Bray comes from a family of teachers, and he is glad to be carrying on the family tradition.

May 26, 2020

Dear friends of the Cliburn,

In light of the global pandemic and its implications on the performing arts industry, the Cliburn today announces modified plans for the upcoming months, including new pop-up concerts; summer and fall seasons for its digital Cliburn at Home initiative; and a delayed start to its traditional Cliburn Concerts season, now in January 2021.

We’ve been closely monitoring developments in our industry—both in Fort Worth and internationally—as we look forward to the fall and beyond. While we must make decisions now regarding some of our programming, we intend to continue to be flexible and responsible, to best serve our communities. All current and future determinations are based on the following considerations:

• The health and security of our constituents—the artists, staff, patrons, volunteers, and all others;
• Social distancing guidelines and how those would affect the concert environment;
• And the availability and safety of international travel, which is paramount to the success of most of our programs—as we showcase the premier talent in the world.

As such, the Cliburn today announces the following:

POP-UP SOCIALLY DISTANCED CONCERTS
The Cliburn is exploring options for a few small live concert experiences this fall at alternative venues that lend themselves to safe, social distancing—to feature regionally based artists. Information will be announced in the weeks prior to each event.

CLIBURN AT HOME – SUMMER AND FALL SEASONS
A Cliburn at Home summer season of the Cliburn Watch Party and Cliburn Kids series will begin on June 15, and plans are taking shape for new offerings for the fall as well. All details to be announced in the coming weeks, and all previously premiered videos can be found at Cliburn.org/Cliburn-at-home.

The Cliburn at Home initiative launched March 30 and will conclude its current spring season on this Saturday, May 30. The three new programs—Cliburn Watch Party, Cliburn Kids, and Cliburn Amateur Spotlight—have amassed 3 million impressions online, with more than 1 million minutes of music watched across 100 countries to date.

2020–2021 CLIBURN CONCERTS DELAYED TO JANUARY 2021
The traditional concert series features recitals from the world’s top classical performing artists at the Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Scat Jazz Lounge, and Bass Performance Hall. The season would have normally opened in October 2020; the Cliburn currently plans to host a shortened season, beginning in January 2021. The announcement of the spring concerts, as well as the ticket-on-sale date, will occur in fall 2020, contingent on conditions at that time.

The Cliburn appreciates the support of its global community during this time and continues to join our classical music colleagues in offering videos online to provide a respite for a world in quarantine. We encourage all to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES FOR THE
2021 CLIBURN COMPETITION ARE ON SALE NOW

May 1, 2020—We are sending our thoughts to you during this time, and we are planning to be with you next year to celebrate the talent of extraordinary pianists, as a community. Today, we announce that premium Platinum and Golden Circle subscriptions are on sale now. We invite you to reserve your seats, as we all look forward to brighter days.

You are invited to reserver the best seats in the house today!
Additional subscription options, as well as single ticket purchases, will be available in September 2020.

CLICK HERE for full information or to purchase your package now.

Music is providing an invaluable respite to a world in quarantine. On March 30, we join our classical music community worldwide in providing new opportunities to connect through the artform we love, in a safe and joyful space for us all, no matter age, culture, or physical location.

We’re announcing three new online initiatives to bring our international family together virtually. You can reconnect with great Cliburn Competition performances, learn with your children by listening to Cliburn Kids, and be inspired by the passion of our Cliburn Amateur pianists.

We hope to get to be with you all in person again soon. In the meantime, we relish this chance for fellowship online.

The daily schedule begins  Monday, March 30. Weekly schedules will be announced each Sunday.

COMPLETE INFORMATION AT CLIBURN.ORG/CLIBURN-AT-HOME

In light of the continued spread of COVID-19 around the United States, and in consideration of current guidance from health officials, the Cliburn has made the decision to cancel or postpone all events scheduled through May 30, 2020. As such, we will be working to reschedule the 2020 Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition and the Classically Cliburn Gala; this season’s remaining Cliburn Concerts, Cliburn in the Classroom programs, and Cliburn in the Community events are canceled. We are saddened by this development and understand the disappointment it causes for our Cliburn Family around the globe, from our loyal patrons to the outstanding participants of the Amateur Competition. Details for each event are outlined below, and the Cliburn staff will be available at 817.738.6536 and info@cliburn.org.

Beatrice Rana was just 20 when she took home silver at the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, on the heels of her first-prize victory at the Montreal Competition two years prior. Since then, Bea (now 26) has taken the international music world by storm, winning admiration and praise from conductors, concert presenters, audiences, and critics alike. She’s played a good portion of the world’s major concert halls (such as Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Berlin Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center); she’s been featured on the cover of more than 10 magazines; and she’s received rave reviews and a slew of awards, including The New York Times’ “Best Classical Music of 2019” list, Gramophone’s 2017 “Young Artist of the Year,” and BBC 2015 “New Generation Artist.” And she signed an exclusive recording deal with Warner Classics, having now released four critically acclaimed albums in four years, including a new Ravel Stravinsky disc that dropped October 25. We caught up with her this December.

CLIBURN: You’ve had such a meteoric rise in the six years since your Cliburn appearance—major concerts, loads of press, and a nice recording contract. What is your secret for balancing the demands of this busy life, while still developing artistically and enjoying it all?

BEATRICE: There is no secret, unfortunately! My strength is the love for what I do: sharing music with people and sharing life with my loved ones. Balancing the two things is not always easy, but I try always my best because they are equally important to me. In this sense, I like to have a busy and challenging schedule, with good combination of old and new repertoire, solo and concertos, and at the same time I save some weeks to be off stage and spend time with family and friends.

CLIBURN: You have had some great mentors along the way. Tell us about those relationships and how they’ve shaped you.

BEATRICE: I owe everything I know to Benedetto Lupo and Arie Vardi. Benedetto Lupo has been my mentor since I was a child, and he taught me the art of music, but also the profession of being pianist: thanks to him, I got a real fascination for colors and sounds, and a real necessity of using a certain sound for a certain result. At 18, I got in the studio of Arie Vardi, and he opened me another world, very wide in a sense, where music, art, literature, and philosophy were all part of one great thing. I feel very lucky to have been mentored by such musicians.

CLIBURN: With all the traveling, concertizing, and amazing collaborators, you must have some great stories from the road. Share one or two with us?

BEATRICE: Last September I played in Paris in the beautiful Theatre des Champs-Elysees with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Yuri Temirkanov. The orchestra and conductor were in the middle of a tour, so they were supposed to arrive in the early afternoon and rehearse with me couple of hours before the concert. As soon as I get on stage for my rehearsal, I see less than half of the orchestra and Maestro Temirkanov on the podium. I ask where the rest of the orchestra was, since the rehearsal was about to start: they told me that the other musicians were on a much delayed plane and didn’t know if they would make it on time. So we rehearsed the Schumann Concerto for a…chamber orchestra size! 🙂 The rest of the orchestra finally arrived 10 minutes before the start of the orchestra, so I got to meet the full orchestra during the concert. Despite everything, it was one of the most beautiful concerts I have ever played.

CLIBURN: Your newest CD just released on October 25. Tell us a little about how that project came together, and what’s up next.

BEATRICE: The last CD is dedicated to two composers that are very dear to my heart: Ravel and Stravinsky. It’s always challenging to decide the repertoire of an album, mainly because the album is like a photographof a precise artistic moment. I have been touring quite a lot in the previous season with Ravel Miroirs and Stravinsky Firebird, so it felt very natural to record them, alongside with La Valse and Petrushka. It’s a portrait of a period of great changes, both on the artistic and on the social level, which brought to the complete collapse caused by the first world war. In a sense, I feel that that kind of feeling of crisis is very present.

CLIBURN: Take us back to 2013. Why did you decide to come to the Cliburn and what was your experience like in Fort Worth?

BEATRICE: My experience at the Cliburn has been completely life changing. I was already very excited to be in Fort Worth and play in such a giant hall for such a venerable jury and audience. But what I understood during the last days of the competition is that that adrenaline that was driving me so much during those days wouldn’t end with the competition: being a laureate of the Cliburn was going to open the doors of so many concert halls for me! At first I was a bit overwhelmed, but step by step I got to find a balance with this new life and started to really enjoy the crazy touring life!

Airing nationally this week, NPR’s From the Top goes behind-the-scenes at the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival. Hosted by pianist Peter Dugan, this documentary-style episode of From the Top features six of the 23 young pianists (age 13 to 17) chosen to participate in two weeks of high-level competition and intense artistic development at the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival in Dallas, Texas. From the Top’s special episode reveals the personal journeys and backstories of these young artists in the midst of this incredible experience, as well as some of their groundbreaking performances.

The Cliburn’s signature education program, Cliburn in the Classroom, goes back to school on Monday, September 16. The program presents the excitement of live piano performances to second-, third-, and fourth-grade students and reinforces the basic elements of music through fun, interactive activities within the context of classical piano repertoire. Cliburn in the Classroom reaches more than 57,000 students through 300 programs in 185 North Texas elementary schools—all Fort Worth ISD elementary schools, plus ten other districts.

In collaboration with TX Whiskey, the Cliburn is proud to announce that the Second Annual Cliburn Cocktail Competition will be held Wednesday, October 2, 2019, at Whiskey Ranch. Local amateur teams will bring their best TX Whiskey concoctions to compete for the super-prestigious Cliburn Cocktail gold medal.

Cliburn in the Classroom presents 2 free public events this summer at Chandor Gardens Mansion in Weatherford, Texas on July 20 and August 10 at 11 AM.  Space is limited for these events, RSVP at the link below.

Announcing the winners of the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition:

First Prize: Shuan Hern Lee, Australia, 16
Second Prize: Eva Gevorgyan, Russia/Armenia, 15
Third Prize: JiWon Yang, South Korea, 17

Alessio Bax, jury chairman of the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival, announced the 14 pianists advancing to the Quarterfinal Round. In the Quarterfinal Round, each of the 14 quarterfinalists will play a recital not to exceed 30 minutes in length, to include the first or last movement of a Classical sonata and a lyrical work, the remainder of the program may be chosen by the pianist. A competitor’s program must not repeat any pieces from their Preliminary Round recital.

The Draw Party for the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival is complete and the performance order for the Preliminary Round is set.

The Competition’s Festival events comprise a variety of FREE public programs aimed at sharing this great music and prodigious talent with the community while advancing the artistic knowledge of competitors, festival attendees, and other pianists.

Highlights include big-screen simulcasts in Klyde Warren Park in Dallas and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth of theFinal Round concert with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ruth Reinhardt on June 8; Community Concerts at Dallas Museum of Art, Klyde Warren Park, Main Street Garden Park, and NorthPark Center; and Masterclasses with Alessio Bax, Anne-Marie McDermott, Gilbert Kalish, Alexander Kobrin, Ruth Reinhardt, and Orion Weiss.

Single tickets are now on sale for the 2019–2020 Cliburn Concerts season, as well as the 2019–2020 Cliburn Sessions season and 2020 Cliburn Festival: Beethoven at 250. Subscriptions—including choose-your-own packages—are also available

Cruise to the Cliburn Junior Finals in style with our Party Bus Ticket Packages. Witness the stunning conclusion to the Junior Competition as the 3 finalists perform full concertos with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ruth Reinhardt at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

2017 Cliburn Jury Discretionary Award winner Leonardo Pierdomenico will perform several free concerts in the Fort Worth area April 29–May 3. These concerts are free and open to the public.

We are thrilled to announce that Marin Alsop will serve as the jury chairman for the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, taking place May 28–June 12, 2021, at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas. The American luminary will also conduct the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra with the six finalists in the Competition’s Final Round.

The Cliburn is thrilled to announce the 24 competitors invited to participate in the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival, taking place May 31–June 8, 2019, in Dallas, Texas, with the first three rounds at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and the Final Round performance with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ruth Reinhardt at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

The Cliburn invites all outstanding, non-professional pianists age 35 and older to apply for the 2020 Cliburn Amateur Competition.   Applications will be due January 16, 2020. 48 competitors and 24 non-competing participants will be announced March 24, 2020. Ralph Votapek, 1962 Cliburn gold medalist, will serve as jury chairman. 6 Finalists will once again perform with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Damon Gupton.

You can now buy your tickets to the Second Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival. The Preliminary, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal Rounds will take place at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and the Final Round concert will take place at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ruth Reinhardt.

February 14–17, a stellar group of artists-in-residence leads a 5-concert musical journey through the Golden Age of Paris. Don’t miss featured pianists Joyce Yang, Dasol Kim, and Louis Schwizgebel; and the Rolston String Quartet perform works by Saint-Saëns, Poulenc, Debussy, Ravel, Fauré, Frank, & More!

Nothing is more special than spending time with family and friends during the Holiday season, and nothing brings people together like music. The Cliburn is offering a great deal so you can share the music you love with the people you love. This special holiday package includes two tickets to three exceptional concerts for $199.

The Cliburn’s newest program, Cliburn Social creates a space where concert meets party. This specially curated classical experience provides members a chance to attend cool performances paired with opportunities to hang out, meet the artists, and make new friends.  Members receive tickets to three Cliburn Concerts events and invitations to four exclusive parties throughout the Cliburn Concerts season.

Tickets for both the Aaron Diehl Trio on October 25, 2018 and Ava Pine + Jonathan Beyer on January 24, 2019 are sold out. You can get on the waiting list for these concerts by emailing gowen@cliburn.org with your contact info and the number of tickets you are requesting. Tickets are still available for the last Sessions concert of the season on April 18, 2019 featuring cellist Joshua Roman. Cliburn Sessions creates a space where excellent classical artists perform in a very relaxed environment, where they are free to be casual, to blend genres, and to interact with the audience.

The Cliburn invites talented pianists to apply for the Second Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival, for pianists age 13 to 17, taking place May 31–June 8, 2019, in Dallas, Texas. Twenty-four pianists, age 13 to 17, will be invited to compete, and, new for the second edition, 14 additional pianists will be accepted as non-competing festival participants and will have the opportunity to take part in master classes, private lessons, workshops, and other elective activities.

Join us April 6 at Ridglea Country Club as we pay tribute to the 60th Anniversary of Van Cliburn’s historic International Tchaikovsky Competition victory in Moscow at the height of the Cold War. A Russian Romance continues the Cliburn gala reputation of bringing together fabulous music and good friends to support the growth of all things Cliburn. It is these outstanding programs, and the tremendous reach of our competitions, that so richly enhance the lives of those in our local community and across the globe. We will also honor immediate past chairman Carla Kemp Thompson, and her husband Kelly, for years of tremendous service and dedication.

The second edition of the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival will take place May 31–June 8, 2019, on the campus of SMU Meadows School of the Arts, culminating with three finalists performing full concertos with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at Morton H Meyerson Symphony Center! Alessio Bax will join us as jury chairman. Applications will open March 1, 2018.