The Cliburn Agency is a compelling expansion of the Cliburn’s brand and impact. Our core mission is to support artists and continuously advance classical music. The management and promotion of exceptional musicians—particularly those with a specific fervor and dedication for expanding audiences and breaking down barriers—is the next step in realizing that mission. Through this new program, the Cliburn develops another powerful way to meet the moment and find new ways to expand classical music’s reach as a source of commonality and shared experience in today’s world.
About the Cliburn Agency Artists
Anderson & Roe Piano Duo
The Anderson & Roe Piano Duo has been called “the most dynamic duo of this generation” (San Francisco Classical Voice), “rock stars of the classical music world” (Miami Herald), and “the very model of complete 21st-century musicians” (The Washington Post). These superlatives are grounded in what can only be described as ineffable connectivity: the technically masterful Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe exude an organic and seamless completeness when they perform together, working in sync to unearth the essence of each piece they play from their genre-transcending repertoire, and testing the boundaries of their instruments. That special alchemy immediately captivates their audiences: “Even the most jaded of concert goers sat forward in their seats and dropped their jaws in amazement as these two just re-wrote the book of the tedious concert recital” (Sarasota Herald-Tribune).
Over twenty years ago, the two Juilliard students first sat down together at a pair of pianos and were astonished by how perfectly their musical sensibilities gelled—as did their ideas about how classical music could, and should, be a more relevant and powerful force in the world. Their two-decade-long partnership can be described as nothing short of pioneering. Anderson & Roe completely redefined the model of the piano duo and have toured the world extensively. Their original compositions—from re-imaginings of the classical canon to arrangements of pop music through a classical lens—reflect their belief that all music has something to say to all people. Their five critically acclaimed albums have spent dozens of weeks atop the Billboard classical charts. Their music videos are the stuff of legends, racking up millions of views and securing them an Emmy® nomination. And they’re regular media personalities, from appearances on MTV, NPR, PBS, and the BBC, to hosting the webcasts of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Greg Anderson
piano
Pianist, composer, curator, and filmmaker Greg Anderson resolutely defined his life’s mission early in his career: to make classical music a powerful and relevant force in society. In the two decades since, he has dedicated every ounce of his restless intellect, finetuned ability, and innate connectivity to craft listening experiences that realize that vision.
The worldwide response has been extraordinary. Today Greg is a renowned concert pianist with live tours reaching four continents and 24 countries, 30+ million music video views, daily radio plays, and over a thousand performances of his compositions every year. His artistic endeavors have appeared on screens big and small (documentaries and movies, PBS and MTV, Oprah and Will & Grace) and have inspired a wide array of culture, from a Korean soap opera to a 150-person spectacle at the Drum Corps International World Championships.
Peter Dugan
piano
Peter Dugan prizes versatility as the hallmark of today’s musician and advocates for a classical music culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all. That approach has manifested in a multifaceted and dynamic career as a pianist, composer, collaborator, and radio host.
A musician equally at home in classical, jazz, and pop idioms, he has appeared as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across North America and around the world. His performance of the Ives Fourth Symphony with the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas was described by the Los Angeles Times as “stunning” and by the San Francisco Chronicle as “fearlessly athletic” and was recorded for release. He is heard on radios nationwide weekly as host of NPR’s From the Top. He’s an active and passionate collaborator who has toured extensively with violinists Joshua Bell and Charles Yang, and vocalists John Brancy and Kara Dugan (his wife)—partnerships which have resulted in recording projects, documentaries, music videos, and a first-prize win at the Montreal Competition. As a composer, Peter has performed his own works everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Joe’s Pub, and his arrangements have been released by Disney+.
Fei-Fei
piano
Infusing “intoxicating grace” into “exceptional musicality” and “inconceivable virtuosity,” pianist Fei-Fei conjures a special and undeniable connectivity with her audiences that brings joy, passion, and deep understanding of the music (Badische Neueste Nachrichten). Her engaging and endearing personality comes through in every note, word, and expression—whether performing as a soloist, recitalist, or chamber musician on world stages or as an advocate for community engagement.
“Sporting a naturally gracious charm and stage presence,” Fei-Fei has “shared her musical passions unstintingly” around the globe (Peninsula Review). Recent projects include her role as artist-in-residence with the Baden-Baden Philharmonic touring in Germany; a Carnegie Hall performance and tour of Spain with the New York Youth Symphony; a cross-disciplinary collaboration with Ballet Arkansas; a performance of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at Lincoln Center with the Pegasus Symphony; a 19-city tour of China with the Aletheia Piano Trio (of which she is a founding member); and performances of lesser-represented repertoire such as concertos by Leroy Anderson, Florence Price, Clara Schumann, and Xiaogang Ye.
Bridget Kibbey
harp
With the harp as her emblem, and virtuosity and expression to burn, Bridget Kibbey is in demand for innovative performances that take audiences on transcendent journeys through time, world cultures, musical genres, and emotional depth. She adeptly and divinely interprets the masters—Bach, Debussy, Ravel—bringing “a fresh face to the familiar music” (Seattle City Arts Magazine), while also being a bold advocate of genre-crossing storytelling and the addition of consequential new music to the cannon.
On a mission to illuminate the powerful, expressive range of the concert harp for new audiences worldwide, Bridget leans into her chameleon tendencies—and love for producing her own touring projects—which has led to a busy and kaleidoscopic touring schedule, from appearance with major orchestras to hosts of curation-meets-performance appearances. She has a special commitment to using music new and old to weave and showcase deep connections across cultures—from the Baroque to the French Belle Époque, to Persian modes to Nuevo Latino traditions, and beyond.
Clayton Stephenson
piano
American pianist Clayton Stephenson’s love for music is immediately apparent in his joyous charisma onstage, expressive power, and natural ease at the instrument.
Growing up in New York City, Clayton credits the generous support of community programs with providing him musical inspiration and resources along the way—from Third Street Music School, Morningside Music Bridge, and Boy’s Club of New York to Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program and its Pre-College program to the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. Now, his commitment to making an impact on the world through his music-making helps define his artistic vision.
Over the past three years, Clayton became the first Black finalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, was named a Gilmore Young Artist and a Sphinx Medal of Excellence honoree, won the first-ever Nina Simone Piano Competition, and graduated from the Harvard-New England Conservatory dual degree program. Performance highlights include the Houston, North Carolina, and Cincinnati Symphonies; Grand Teton, Grant Park, and Tippet Rise festivals; Fondation Louis Vuitton, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 92Y, and Washington Performing Arts at the Kennedy Center; and collaborations with violinists Nikki and Timothy Chooi in Europe and North America.
For Media Inquiries:
Maggie Estes, Director of Communications and Digital Content
[email protected]817.738.6536