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Albert Cano Smit has “established himself as an artist to watch” (Montreal Gazette), having won first prizes at the 2019 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the 2017 Walter W. Naumburg Piano Competition, the latter of which earned him a Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall. He was also awarded the prestigious Arthur Rubinstein Piano Prize from The Juilliard School in 2020, and had strong finishes in the 2017 Montreal and 2016 Hilton Head competitions.

Adopt-A-Competitor returns to local libraries this year, inviting you to see two of the 2025 competitors—Jonathan Mamora and Federico Gad Crema—perform 20 minutes each ahead of the upcoming 2025 Cliburn Competition. Bring your friends and family for this fun culturally inspired program.

Christopher Elton was born in Edinburgh and received most of his musical education at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he achieved the unusual distinction of gaining the Academy’s highest performing award – the Dip. RAM – on both piano and cello.

A consummate musician recognized for her grace, subtlety, and brilliance, Orli Shaham has established an impressive international reputation as one of today’s most gifted pianists. Hailed by critics on four continents, Ms. Shaham is in demand for her prodigious skills and admired for her interpretations of both standard and modern repertoire. The New York Times called her a “brilliant pianist,” the Chicago Tribune recently referred to her as “a first-rate Mozartean” in a performance with the Chicago Symphony, and London’s Guardian said her playing at the Proms was “perfection.”

After Vitaly Starikov completed his studies at the Ural Special Music School in his native Yekaterinburg, his “dream came true” when he began studying with Vera Gornostayeva, one of the world’s most venerated teachers, at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. At that time, her student, Vadym Kholodenko, had just won the 2013 Cliburn Competition, which “greatly inspired” Vitaly: “and it was then that the thought was born to someday participate in this competition.”

Get a taste of the artistry and excitement of the upcoming 2025 Cliburn Competition! Bring your friends and family for a free concert at the Near Southside's Cliburn Mural, featuring 2013 finalist Fei-Fei in this year's Countdown to the Cliburn series.

Nicholas Mcgegan, Conductor

It was an honor having you join us for the 2024 Cliburn Classic Golf and Pickleball Tournaments. We are grateful for our donors, players, spectators, and especially for our honorary chairmen, Elisabeth and Brent Hyder, and our tournament chairmen, Cameron and Huck Newberry and Megan and Perry Porterfield. Thank you for making the 2024 Cliburn Classic a Monday to remember!

Join the Cliburn June 6 & 7 in Sundance Square Plaza to celebrate the finale of the 2025 Cliburn Competition in style.

2026 Cliburn Festival: America 250 will take place March 26–29, 2026, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth with pianists-in-residence Peter Dugan, Avery Gagliano, and Jonathan Mamora.