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Spend Spring Break with Cliburn Kids on the Road: Keys to America at Klyde Warren Park

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.

Pianist Lauren Koszyk maintains a versatile career as an educator, opera coach, and collaborative pianist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A graduate of the University of North Texas, she earned her Master of Music in Collaborative Piano with a related field in Early Music; she also holds a degree in German Language. Ms. Koszyk has been presented with top honors by the Governor of Illinois and the President of Illinois State University.

Marin Alsop, jury chair for the 2028 Cliburn International Competition for Conductors

Mexican actress Julia Landey has a wide-ranging career as a performer, educator, and entrepreneur. She earned a degree in acting at the University of Guadalajara and went on to win the 2015 Proyecta Production award, given by the state of Jalisco’s Ministry of Culture, for a monologue that she wrote and performed in. She also enjoyed a season in residence in one of Mexico City’s major theaters.

Form for Cliburn Board Members 2025–2026

Vote for your favorite competitor! The pianist with the most votes will receive the Carla and Kelly Thompson Audience Award and a cash prize of $2,500, presented at the Awards Ceremony on June 7, 2025.

No refunds or exchanges will be allowed for Competition ticket-package purchases.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Sara Doan began studying piano at the age of 3 with Donna Edwards. Under her tutelage, Ms. Doan won top prizes in several state and regional competitions. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in piano performance at the University of North Texas, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at TCU.

Tianxu An, from Baoding, near Beijing, is a sought-after young artist, both at home in China and around the world. In June 2019, Tianxu drew international attention when he won fourth prize and a special prize for “courage and restraint” in the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition—the highest award for a Chinese pianist at that contest in 17 years. A month later, he made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center.