June 18, 2022

After two and half weeks of high-level competition and exceptional music-making, the winners of the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition were announced tonight by Jury Chair Marin Alsop at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas USA.

“Sixty years ago, inspired by Van Cliburn’s legacy, the first Cliburn Competition was held,” said Jacques Marquis, Cliburn president and CEO. “It had two main objectives: to discover and support young, exceptional artists, and to bring this beautiful music to the world. Today, we’re proud to say that these have both held true with this sixteenth edition. It brought us all together for a glorious 17 days that knew no boundaries, for a moving celebration of great music. These pianists have been truly inspirational.”

Commenting on his win Jury Chair Marin Alsop said, “It has been inspiring to witness a talent of Yunchan’s magnitude. All finalists showed exceptional musicality and artistry, yet Yunchan stood out among them. Throughout these last three weeks, but particularly his spectacular performance of Rachmaninov’s third piano concerto showed that even at the age of 18 he already exhibits exceptional depth and dazzling technique. I look forward to seeing him develop in the years to come and our future collaborations.”

The winner of the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Gold Medal and the Van Cliburn Winner’s Cup is Yunchan Lim, South Korea, 18

Yunchan Lim, the gold medalist, will receive a cash award of $100,000; three years individualized career management, including U.S. and international concert tours; Steinway Recording Prize Studio Album; promotional package including press kits, videos; website; performance attire provided by Neiman Marcus
Award made possible by a gift from Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bassd*

The silver medalist is Anna Geniushene, Russia, 31, who will receive a cash award of $50,000; three years individualized career management and U.S. concert tours; promotional package including press kits, videos, website; and performance attire
Awarded by Mr. and Mrs. Fuller French and Family in honor of Adelaide Polk Fuller

The bronze medalist is Dmytro Choni, Ukraine, 28, who will receive a cash award of $25,000; three years individualized career management and U.S. concert tours; promotional package including press kits, videos, website; performance attire.
Awarded by the Mollie and Garland Lasater Charitable Fund at the North Texas Community Foundation

The remaining three finalists will receive cash awards of $10,000 each. They are Uladzislau Khandohi, Belarus, 20; Ilya Shmukler, Russia, 27; Clayton Stephenson, United States, 23
Awards made possible by a gift from Mr. and Mrs. John B. Kleinheinz*, Janny and Warren Strickland Schwab Charitable, and Juana-Rosa and Rond Daniell

The Cliburn 2022 webcast broke previous Cliburn streaming records with a global online audience of over 9 million following the Competition in more than 170 countries.

As part of the Cliburn’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian National Anthem was performed in the Awards Ceremony by Kyiv-born 2013 Cliburn Gold Medalist Vadym Kholodenko.

OTHER AWARDS

Award for the Best Performance of a Mozart Concerto, with a cash prize of $5,000, was awarded to Ilya Shmukler.
Awarded by Anton Nel

The Beverley Taylor Smith Award for the Best Performance of a New Work, with a cash prize of $5,000, was awarded to Yunchan Lim.
Award made possible by a gift from the Estate of Gordon William Smith*

The winner of the John Giordano Jury Chairman Discretionary Award, with a cash prize of $4,000, is Marcel Tadokoro, France/Japan, age 28.
Award made possible by a gift from Mary D. and F. Howard Walshd*

The winner of the Raymond E. Buck Jury Discretionary Award, with a cash prize of $4,000, is Andrew Li, United States, age 22.
Award made possible by a gift from the Raymond E. Buck Foundation*

The winner of the Patricia and Neal Steffen Family Jury Discretionary Award, with a cash prize of $4,000, is Changyong Shin, South Korea, age 28.
Award made possible by a gift from Patricia A. Steffen*

The Carla and Kelly Thompson Audience Award presented by medici.tv was determined by more than 13,400 votes from 84 countries to cliburn.medici.tv. The Audience Award winner, Yunchan Lim will receive a cash award of $2,500.
Award made possible by a gift from Carla and Kelly Thompson*

The semifinalists will receive cash awards of $5,000 each.

The quarterfinalists will receive cash awards of $2,500 each.

Preliminary Round competitors will receive cash awards of $1,000 each.

*Funded by a generous donation to the Cliburn Endowment
Deceased