June 11, 2023

Janina Fialkowska, chairman of the Jury for the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival(taking place June 8–17, 2023, at Caruth Auditorium at SMU and Meyerson Symphony Center) is proud to announce the six pianists advancing to the Semifinal Round, which will take place in two phases.

  • Phase I (Wednesday, June 14): The six semifinalists each perform a 40-minute recital, to include one work written by a living composer and a substantial work of at least 16-minutes.
  • Phase II (Thursday, June 15): 6 competitors perform one concerto movement with piano accompaniment by Mikhail Berestnev and Anastasia Markina.

The Semifinalists:

Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea
Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia
The announcement comes after tonight’s Quarterfinal Round concert was paused due to a fire alarm in the venue. Our last quarterfinalist, Modan Oyama, completed his performance tonight for the jurors only, and the jury then voted to select the six semifinalists. Competitors were notified of the results in person by Jury Chairman Janina Fialkowska and President and CEO Jacques Marquis.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Phase I: 6 competitors perform 40-minute recital to include one work written by a living composer and a substantial work of at least 16-minutes
Semifinal Round Concert 1  I  2:30 PM

2:30 p.m. – Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia
3:12 p.m. – Zhonghua Wei 魏中华, 14, China
20-MINUTE INTERMISSION
4:12 p.m. – Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea

Semifinal Round Concert 2  I  7:00 PM

7:00 p.m. – Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China
7:42 p.m. – Zihan Jin 金子涵, 14, China
20-MINUTE INTERMISSION
8:42 p.m. – Modan Oyama 大山桃暖, 17, Japan

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Phase II: 6 competitors perform one concerto movement with piano accompaniment
Semifinal Round Concert 3  I  7:00 PM (followed by the announcement of the Finalists)

Jan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia – SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22 (II)
Zhonghua Wei 魏中华, 14, China – LISZT Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124 (II, III, IV)
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea – RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43 (vars. 18-24)
20-MINUTE INTERMISSION
Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China – CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11 (III)
Modan Oyama 大山桃暖, 17, Japan – SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22 (II)
Zihan Jin 金子涵, 14, China – LISZT Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124 (II, III, IV)