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Born in Qinhuangdao, Xiaolu Zang was 4 years old when an electric keyboard caught his attention. He eventually attended the Beijing Central Music Conservatory Middle School for seven years under Professor Ye Lin and won first prizes in several major Chinese competitions. It was during that time, at the age of 15, that he recalls a singular day when he determined himself to become a professional musician. That commitment took him to Germany in 2017, where he studies with Arie Vardi at Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover.

The Passport to Pianotown invites you to businesses around Fort Worth, Texas, for unique Cliburn-themed offers and experiences, happening throughout the 2025 Cliburn Competition.

In this concert, 2 of 12 competitors will each perform a 60-minute recital.

On Jonathan Mak’s third birthday, his sister’s piano teacher decided to give him a trial lesson; he has been actively studying both piano and viola ever since. He made his orchestra debut with the Canadian Sinfonietta just one year later, at the age of 4.

Yangrui Cai began his piano studies at age 4, though none of his family had any music- or art-related background. When he was 15, a first-place finish in the national auditions earned him a spot in China’s Xinghai Conservatory of Music Middle School. Upon his graduation with distinction in July 2019, the Hunan native was admitted to several prestigious conservatories in the United States with full scholarships. He is currently a third-year undergraduate student at Oberlin Conservatory, under the tutelage of 2001 Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch.

Exploring the ways music reflects the American experience over the last 250 years, the Cliburn brings together a group of artists in residence to present music written in, inspired by, or reflective of the United States.

In this concert, 2 of 12 competitors will each perform a 60-minute recital.

Information for arts presenters on booking 2025 Cliburn Winners

Cliburn Social is an all-ages, specially curated, classical experience of cool performances paired with opportunities to hang out, learn more about classical music + make new friends.

When he was a child, Ziyu Liu’s parents discovered that he could memorize melodies of songs and play them, without any instruction, on their electric keyboard. They bought him a piano, and he started learning on his own. At the age of 11, he decided that he wanted to become a professional pianist because of the joy he got from communicating with others through music.