2028 Amateur Competition

Ninth Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition

for outstanding, non-professional pianists age 35 and older  •  JUNE 2028  •  FORT WORTH, TEXAS  USA

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;” 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 competition brings together the best amateur pianists from around the world for seven days of performances, symposia, and social events.

The ninth edition will take place in Fort Worth, Texas, in June 2028. Further details regarding application, venues, jury, competition schedule, and festival events will be announced in 2027.

THE CLIBURN AMATEUR VISION

At the Cliburn, we are lucky to promote and be surrounded by music. We present recitals by professional artists through several series, bring a grand piano and musicians to hundreds of schools for interactive concerts, and produce competitions that reward artistic achievement at the highest levels. We constantly strive to present the best-quality programs in service to our mission of advancing classical piano music throughout the world.

As a layperson, it’s easy to enjoy these musical offerings. But the Amateur Competition invites deeper participation by inviting nonprofessionals to aspire to great musical heights themselves.

For the pianists who are competing in Fort Worth, preparation has required commitment and discipline in the midst of already busy lives. First there’s the task of creating interesting programs and curating a series of recitals that will showcase a distinctive musical vision while displaying technical ease. Then there’s the process of actually learning music: to read the notes and thread them together, to get the fingers to do exactly what they’re supposed to do, to understand the overall architecture of a work, to create meaning and nuance in each phrase. After all the hours of practicing are done, these competitors will allow themselves both the immense joy and the vulnerability of sharing their work and artistic vision with a widespread audience. We can’t help but admire their efforts and cheer them on!

The Boston Globe proclaimed the Cliburn Amateur Competition to be “a celebration of music, and the people who have to make music, no matter what.” We’re privileged to offer a platform for these gifted amateur pianists to show off their incredible talents, to honor the hard work and dedication that goes into perfecting this art, and to celebrate classical piano music with those who love it.

Since 1999, the Cliburn has welcomed to Fort Worth over 350 different pianists from six continents who have represented such diverse fields as architecture, banking, engineering, film, homemaking, journalism, law, mathematics, and medicine. These competitors inspire us not only with extraordinary performances and musicianship, but also by their devotion to this craft and all the ways that manifests itself in daily life: waking up at 5:00 in the morning to sneak in an hour of practice before the rest of the family wakes up; accompanying the kids in violin recitals or helping them practice; heading straight to the piano after a long workday to finish learning a page of music; giving performances in their local communities. Some have played continuously since the age of four, while others have returned to the piano after perhaps decades of silence. Some have advanced performance degrees; others are self-taught. Their training, histories, and beliefs vary, but their shared passion brings them all to the Cliburn Amateur.

SCENES FROM THE 2022 CLIBURN AMATEUR

PAST CLIBURN AMATEUR AWARD WINNERS

EIGHTH COMPETITION

October 12–18, 2022
Van Cliburn Recital Hall & Bass Performance Hall
Fort Worth, Texas USA

WINNERS

The Richard Rodzinski First Prize
Jon Lee (Software Engineer, 41, United States)

Second Prize
Michael Slavin (Neuro-Ophthalmologist (retired), 71, United States)

Third Prize
Xavier Aymonod (Marketing Director – Public Transportation, 46, France)

Jury Discretionary Award
Deirbhile Brennan (Accountant, 53, Ireland)

Jury Discretionary Award
Sean Sutherland (Product Manager, 45, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines/Canada)

Jury Discretionary Award
Noah DeGarmo (Physician, 44, United States)

Audience Award
Masanori Murakami (Clinical Project Manager, 38, Japan)

SEVENTH COMPETITION

June 19–25, 2016
Van Cliburn Recital Hall & Bass Performance Hall
Fort Worth, Texas USA

WINNERS

Richard Rodzinski First Prize Award
Thomas Yu (Periodontist, Canada)

Second Prize
Michael Slavin (Ophthalmologist (ret.), United States)

Third Prize
Xavier Aymonod (Strategy Consultant, France)

Press Jury Award
Thomas Yu (Periodontist, Canada)

Audience Award
Thomas Yu (Periodontist, Canada)

Best Performance of a Work from the Baroque Era
Clark Vann Griffith (Database Programmer (ret.), United States)

Best Performance of a Work from the Classical Era
Ken Iisaka (Software Engineer, Japan/Canada)

Best Performance of a Work from the Romantic Era
Matthias Fischer (Physician, Germany)

Best Performance of a Post-Romantic Work
Jasmin Tiodang (Stay-at-Home Mother, Indonesia)

Creative Programming Award
Gregory Knight (Software Engineer, United States)

Jury Discretionary Awards
Deirbhile Brennan (Accountant, Ireland)
Lana Marina (Stay-at-Home Mother, United States)

SIXTH COMPETITION

May 23–29, 2011
Ed Landreth Auditorium, TCU
Fort Worth, Texas USA

WINNERS

Richard Rodzinski First Prize Award
Christopher Shih (Physician, USA)

Second Prize
Clark Griffith (Database Programmer (ret.), USA)

Third Prize
Barry Coutinho (Family Physician, USA)

Press Jury Award
Jane Gibson King (Homemaker, USA)

Audience Award
Christopher Shih

Best Performance of a Work from the Baroque Era
Clark Griffith

Best Performance of a Work from the Classical Era
Jun Fujimoto (Piano Marketing Specialist, USA)

Best Performance of a Work from the Romantic Era
Christopher Shih

Best Performance of a Post-Romantic Work
Barry Coutinho

Most Creative Programming Award
Clark Griffith

Jury Discretionary Awards
Leslie Myrick (Hospital Administrator (ret.), Canada)
David Hibbard (Railroad Manager (ret.), USA)

Fort Worth Piano Teachers Forum Award
Clark Griffith

FIFTH COMPETITION

May 28–June 3, 2007
Ed Landreth Auditorium, TCU
Fort Worth, Texas USA

WINNERS

Richard Rodzinski First Prize Award
Drew Mays (Ophthalmologist, USA)

Second Prize
Mark Fuller (Attorney, USA)

Third Prize
Clark Griffith (Composer/Retired Internet Technology Administrator, USA)

Press Jury Award
Mark Fuller

Audience Award
Drew Mays

Best Performance of a Work from the Baroque Era
Clark Griffith

Best Performance of a Work from the Classical Era
Franz Mantini (Electrical Engineer, USA)

Best Performance of a Work from the Romantic Era
Drew Mays

Best Performance of a Post-Romantic Work
Mark Fuller

Most Creative Programming Award
Esfir Ross (Dental Assistant, USA)

Jury Discretionary Awards
Thomas Maurice (Network Administrator, Canada)
Kent Lietzau (Aerospace and Defense Industry Executive, USA)

Fort Worth Piano Teachers Forum Award
David Hibbard (Retired Railroad Manager, USA)

FOURTH COMPETITION

May 31–June 5, 2004
Ed Landreth Auditorium, TCU
Fort Worth, Texas USA

WINNERS

First Prize
Paul Anthony Romero (Composer and Porcelain Dealer, USA)

Second Prize
Averill Piers Baker (Legal Volunteer, Canada)

Third Prize
Ann Herlong (Homemaker, USA)

Press Jury Award
Paul Anthony Romero

Audience Award
Paul Anthony Romero

Best Performance of a Work from the Baroque Era
Ann Herlong

Best Performance of a Work from the Classical Era
Hiroko Ohtani (Physical Chemist, Japan [U.S. Resident])

Best Performance of a Work from the Romantic Era
Paul Anthony Romero

Best Performance of a Modern Work
Miho Yamada Fisher (Medical Researcher, Japan [U.S. Resident])

Most Creative Programming Award
Darin Tysdal (Music Store Co-manager, USA)

Jury Discretionary Awards
Miho Yamada Fisher
Franz Josef Mantini (Electrical Engineer, USA)

Special Recognition Awards
Dale L. Backus (Mechanical Engineer, USA)
Greg Fisher (Computer Programmer and Web Designer, USA)

Fort Worth Piano Teachers Forum Award
Stephen Fierros (Information Systems Advisor, USA)

THIRD COMPETITION

June 3–8, 2002
Ed Landreth Auditorium, TCU
Fort Worth, Texas USA

WINNERS

First Prize
Victoria Bragin (Professor of Chemistry, USA)
Michael Hawley (Director of Special Projects, MIT, USA)

Second Prize
Paul Romero (CD-ROM Game Composer, USA)

Third Prize
Not awarded

Press Jury Award
Michael Hawley

Audience Award
Victoria Bragin

Best Performance of a Work from the Baroque Era
Ellen Dodson (Business Consultant, USA)

Best Performance of a Work from the Classical Era
Charles Chien (Flight Attendant Purser, USA)

Best Performance of a Work from the Romantic Era
Victoria Bragin

Best Performance of a Modern Work
Victoria Bragin

Most Creative Programming Award
Michael Hawley

Jury Discretionary Awards
Charles Chien
Henri Delbeau (Doctor of Internal Medicine, USA)
Debra Saylor (Sales Associate, USA)

Special Recognition Awards
Miho Fisher (Retired Cardiologist, Japan, [U.S. Resident])
Mark Horowitz (Cantor and Educator, USA)
Yat-Lam Hong (Piano Technician, USA)

Fort Worth Piano Teachers Forum Award
Karen Bush Purpero (Missionary, USA)

SECOND COMPETITION

June 5–10, 2000
Ed Landreth Auditorium, TCU
Fort Worth, Texas USA

WINNERS

First Prize
Christopher Basso (Assistant Store Manager, USA)

Second Prize
Steven Ryan (Computer Consultant, USA)

Third Prize
Debra Saylor (Private Voice Instructor, USA)

Press Jury Award
Christopher Basso

Audience Award
Christopher Basso

Best Performance of a Work from the Baroque Era
Christopher Basso

Best Performance of a Work from the Classical Era
Steven Ryan

Best Performance of a Work from the Romantic Era
Debra Saylor

Best Performance of a Modern Work
Christopher Basso

Most Creative Programming Award
Michael Hawley (Professor of Media Technology, USA)

FIRST COMPETITION

June 9–13, 1999
Ed Landreth Auditorium, TCU
Fort Worth, Texas USA

WINNERS

Jury Award
Joel Holoubeck (Numismatist, France)

Press Jury Award
Joel Holoubeck

Audience Award
Alexandre Bodak (Physician, France)