The Cliburn Announces 20-year Partnership with Southern Methodist University and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for International Competition for Young Pianists

The Cliburn is pleased to announce a 20-year partnership with Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, covering the next five editions of the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists (formerly known as the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival). The next edition of the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists takes place June 10–19, 2027, in Dallas, Texas. The competition will include an in-residence fellowship program on the campus of SMU, consisting of masterclasses, workshops, artist conversations, performance opportunities, and other scheduled activities.

“As the Cliburn continues to encourage the futures of the amazing young artists who participate in the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists, we must also invest in the future of the communities that make events like this possible,” said Jacques Marquis, president and CEO of the Cliburn. “By cementing the partnership with SMU and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra—true pillars of the Dallas artistic community—for the next 20 years, we are telling the people of Dallas that the Cliburn is here, and that we are committed to the development of the next generation of great artists.”

In addition, the Cliburn announces renewed partnerships for the next 20 years with the Nasher Sculpture Center and NorthPark Center, as well as KERA and WRR.

Applications are now open for the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists. Talented pianists aged 13 to 17 are encouraged to apply by November 17, 2026. The Cliburn will invite 38 artists to participate as Piano Fellows; from this group, 24 pianists will be selected to compete for prizes. All applicants must have been born on or after June 7, 2014, and before June 19, 2010. Complete details and the application can be found at cliburn.org/competitions/2027-young-pianists

The competition’s Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds, as well as fellowship program events, will be hosted on the campus of SMU, where participants will also reside throughout their time in Dallas. For the Final Round, six young pianists will perform one concerto movement with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, conducted by Maurice Cohn, music director of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and former assistant conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Chinese pianist Sa Chen (2005 Cliburn bronze medalist) will serve as jury chair for the 2027 competition. A prizewinner at the International Chopin, Leeds, and Cliburn competitions, Ms. Chen has fostered an international touring career, recorded 11 albums, and served on several high-profile competition juries including the Chopin, Leeds, and Busoni. 

The remainder of the jury includes:

• Kenny Broberg, USA (2017 Cliburn silver medalist)
  Lucille Chung, Canada/USA

• Alessandro Deljavan, Italy

• Marie-Josèphe Jude, France

• Alexander Korsantia, Georgia/USA

• Alessandro Mazzamuto, Italy

• Noriko Ogawa, Japan

• Steven Osborne, Scotland

Download hi-res images of the Jury here.

About the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists

The Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists was established in 2015 as another means for the Cliburn to use its standing and expertise to encourage tomorrow’s great artists, to provide a valuable forum for them to express themselves, and to give them an entrance to the next step of their journeys. Key ingredients are top international jurors, the media and broadcast, Final Round performances with orchestra, and the fellowship experience, which included performance experience and artistic workshops. The most recent edition (2023) drew 247 applications from 44 countries; live and on demand webcast views topped 2,000,000 with viewers in more than 170 countries.

 Download hi-res images from the 2023 Cliburn Young Pianists Competition here.

2027 Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists Key Dates

• March 5, 2026 – Applications open

• November 17, 2026 – Applications due

• January 2027 – Tickets on sale

• February 9, 2027 – Piano Fellows announced

• June 10, 2027 – Competition begins

• June 19, 2027 – Awards Ceremony

2027 Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists Rounds

Preliminary Round: 24 pianists each perform a 30-minute recital, to include a Bach Prelude and Fugue, one fast, virtuosic etude, and one lyrical work (any nocturne by Chopin, Fauré, or John Field; any Mendelssohn Song Without Words; or any Brahms Intermezzo)

Semifinal Round: 12 pianists perform in two phases:

Phase I: A 40-minute recital to include the first OR last movement of any Haydn sonata, any Mozart sonata, or one of Beethoven’s sonatas Nos. 1–12; one work by a living composer; and one substantial work of at least 14 minutes.

Phase II: Each pianist will perform the concerto movement submitted for the Final Round with piano accompaniment. The Cliburn will provide a collaborative pianist.

Final Round: Six pianists will perform one concerto movement from the following list with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maurice Cohn

• BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, op. 15 (I)

• BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, op. 19 (I)

• BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, op. 37 (I)

• BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, op. 58 (I)

• CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, op. 21 (I)

• GRIEG Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 16 (I)

• MOZART Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271 (I)

• MOZART Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271 (III)

• MOZART Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466 (I)

• MOZART Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467 (I)

• MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488 (I)

• MOZART Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503 (I)

• PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 16 (I)

• PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 16 (IV)

• PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26 (I)

• PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, op. 26 (III)

• RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, op. 18 (I)

• RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, op. 18 (III)

• SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22 (I)

• SCHUMANN Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 54 (I)

• SCHUMANN Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 54 (III)

About the Cliburn

The Cliburn advances classical piano music throughout the world. Its international competitions, education programs, and concert series embody an enduring commitment to artistic excellence and the discovery of new artists. The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (eighteenth edition, May/June 2029) is widely considered “the instrument’s Olympics” (The Guardian, June 2025) and “one of the most prestigious contests in classical music” (The New York Times, June 2022). From its origins in 1962 through today, it has remained dedicated to sharing music with the largest international audience possible and to launching the careers of its winners. Known for excellence and innovation in the digital space, the Cliburn is one of the most-watched events in classical music: video views over the past four years have topped 100 million across 200 countries. 

The Cliburn is a proven catalyst to significant worldwide touring careers for its winners, with a laureate roster that—in the past 25 years alone—includes Olga Kern, Joyce Yang, Haochen Zhang, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Yeol Eum Son, Vadym Kholodenko, Beatrice Rana, Yekwon Sunwoo, and Yunchan Lim. And to that list, it now adds its 2025 class: Aristo Sham (gold), Vitaly Starikov (silver), and Evren Ozel (bronze). This track record of success brings an elite group of 18- to 30-year-old pianists to Fort Worth every four years to compete for the coveted medals. The total Cliburn prize package is worth an estimated $2 million and includes comprehensive and personalized career management, concert bookings, artistic support, and bolstered publicity efforts.

Over a four-year cycle, the Cliburn contributes to North Texas’ cultural landscape with over 170 classical music performances for 150,000 attendees through competitions, free community concerts, and its signature Cliburn Concerts series. It presents 1,000 Cliburn in the Classroom in-school, interactive music education programs for more than 200,000 area elementary students. 

In 2026, the Cliburn launched the Cliburn International Competition for Conductors, the first major international conducting competition in North America. The inaugural edition will take place in Houston, Texas in 2028, in partnership with the Houston Symphony and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.

About the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Fabio Luisi (Louise W. & Edmund J. Kahn Music Directorship), presents more than 100 concerts each year at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s finest concert halls. Tracing its origins to a concert with 40 musicians conducted by Hans Kreissig in 1900, the DSO has become the most prominent performing arts organization in the Southwest and is a cornerstone of the 118-acre Dallas Arts District, the largest urban arts district in the nation. Through its acclaimed recordings and international touring, the DSO shares its artistry with audiences around the globe, extending its impact beyond Dallas.  

The DSO is committed to its mission of inspiring and changing lives through musical excellence and serves more than 200,000 adults and children each year through performances, educational programs and community initiatives. The DSO’s education programs plant the seed for musical study and appreciation as well as success in academics and social development. The Young Strings and Kim Noltemy Young Musicians provide access to free music lessons and instruments for hundreds of students each year, and the Cecil and Ida Green Youth Concerts welcome more than 10,000 Dallas-area students to the Meyerson each season. For nearly three decades, the DSO has presented classical music to thousands through the annual summer Parks Concerts Series. DSO Cares offers performances in hospitals, senior living facilities and in partnership with other service organizations across North Texas, bringing the healing power of music to those who need it most.

The DSO is supported, in part, by funds from the Office of Arts & Culture, City of Dallas. For more information, visit dallassymphony.org or follow @dallassymphony on social media.

About the SMU Meadows School of the Arts

Formally established at SMU in 1969 and named in honor of benefactor Algur H. Meadows, the Meadows School of the Arts is one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. The Meadows School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in an unusual mix of the arts—visual (art, art history, and creative computation), performing (dance, music, and theatre) and communications (advertising; film and media arts; corporate communication and public affairs; and journalism)—as well as a preeminent program in arts management and arts entrepreneurship. The goal of the Meadows School, as a comprehensive educational institution, is to prepare students to meet the demands of professional careers. The school is a leader in developing innovative outreach and community engagement programs, challenging its students to make a difference locally and globally by developing connections between art, entrepreneurship, and change. Meadows is also a convener for the arts in North Texas, serving as a catalyst for new collaborations and providing critical industry research. Learn more at smu.edu.