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2025 Cliburn Gold Medalist Aristo Sham

The Cliburn was founded in 1962, and has flourished since on the shoulders of a community of supporters—committed individuals, corporations, foundations, and arts, service, and educational organizations. The dedication of your time and resources fulfills the Cliburn’s mission of providing life-changing opportunities for young pianists, participatory music education for public elementary school children, and access to excellent art for lovers of music. In essence, continuing Van Cliburn’s vision of sharing classical music with the largest possible audience.

In June 2022, Yunchan Lim 임윤찬 became the youngest person ever to win gold at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; his performances throughout showcased a “magical ability” and a “natural, instinctive quality” (La Scena) that astounded listeners around the world. As Jury Chair Marin Alsop expressed: “Yunchan is that rare artist who brings profound musicality and prodigious technique organically together.” The depth of his artistry and connection to listeners also secured him the Audience Award and Best Performance of a New Work.

As in competitions past, the three medalists receive a comprehensive and personalized career management package, including three years of concert bookings, artistic planning mentorship, traditional and social media training, logistics support, and tax and financial planning guidance, as well as commercial recording releases and a complete promotional package.

Purchase your tickets to attend the 2025 Cliburn Competition in person. See the world's best pianists live in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Screening Auditions determine which pianists will compete in the Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. For one week in March, 77 pianists arrived in Fort Worth to perform 25-minute recitals for a public audience and members of the Screening Jury. The screening jurors—comprised of five internationally recognized artists—will then select 30 to return in May for the 2025 Cliburn Competition.

Info for Arts Presenters

Videos from the 2025 Cliburn Preliminary Round Day 1

Gabriela Montero’s visionary interpretations and unique compositional gifts have garnered her critical acclaim and a devoted following on the world stage. Anthony Tommasini remarked in The New York Times that “Montero’s playing had everything: crackling rhythmic brio, subtle shadings, steely power…soulful lyricism…unsentimental expressivity.”

Read the latest in competition announcements, career updates from medalists, profiles on the Cliburn community, and local concerts.