The Cliburn

The Cliburn It is the mission of the Cliburn to advance classical piano music throughout the world. Tickets are on sale now to attend in person.

Widely considered one of the preeminent international music contests, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition exists to share excellent classical music with the largest international audience possible and to launch the careers of its winners every four years. Building on a rich tradition that began with its 1962 origins in honor of Van Cliburn and his vision for using music to serve audiences and break down boundaries, the Cliburn seeks, with each edition, to achieve the highest artistic standards while utilizing contemporary tools to advance its reach. The world’s top 18- to 30-year-old pianists compete for gold in front of a live audience in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as a global online viewership of over 10 million. Beyond cash prizes, winning a Cliburn medal means comprehensive career management, artistic support, and bolstered publicity efforts for the three years following. The sixteenth edition of the Cliburn Competition will take place June 2–18, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas at the brand-new Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU (Preliminary and Quarterfinal Rounds) and Bass Performance Hall (Semifinal and Final Rounds). The Competition, postponed from 2021 (a first in the Cliburn’s 60-year history), saw a record-breaking number of applications—388 pianists from 51 countries. The Cliburn’s expert panels selected the 30 extraordinary artists who will compete. Watch the Competition streamed LIVE at cliburn.org.

09/13/2026

Happy Birthday to 2009 Cliburn Gold Medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii 辻井 伸行!

Born blind, Nobu stunned the world with his impressive technique and became the first Japanese pianist to win the Cliburn gold.

Enjoy this absolutely inciderary take on Liszt's Paganini Etude No. 3 La Campanella recorded live at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at Bass Performance Hall.

We are pleased to announce that Aeolus Quartet  has joined the Cliburn Agency roster for worldwide general management ef...
09/10/2026

We are pleased to announce that Aeolus Quartet has joined the Cliburn Agency roster for worldwide general management effective immediately.

The quartet comprising Isabelle Ai Durrenberger and Rachel Kitagawa Shapiro, violins; Caitlin Lynch, viola; and Jia Kim, cello becomes the first string ensemble to join the Cliburn Agency roster.

Acclaimed for “high-octane” performances (The Strad) and a “rich and warm tone combined with precise ensemble playing” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), the Aeolus Quartet is committed to presenting time-seasoned masterworks in dialogue with new and lesser-known works, with equal dedication and fervor.

Learn more about the Aeolus Quartet at the link in the comments.

Aeolus Quartet says, "We are overjoyed to join the Cliburn Agency family! As an ensemble, our core values are connection, excellence, creativity, and energy. From our very first conversations with the Cliburn team, it was clear that these values are also the foundation and lifeblood of their work. In any setting, it is both fortuitous and invigorating to meet others who share your passion and the why behind the work you do. To have the opportunity to expand that synergy and rapport into an ongoing collaborative partnership is truly a dream come true. We are grateful for the opportunity to share inspiration and dream big with such a knowledgeable, passionate, and committed team, whose vision for the future of our industry is in such clear alignment with our own. "

The All-American Concerto evening is only two weeks away! Get your tickets now at the link in the comments.Join us at Ba...
09/08/2026

The All-American Concerto evening is only two weeks away! Get your tickets now at the link in the comments.

Join us at Bass Performance Hall for three iconic American concertos performed by three extraordinary American soloists with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Spano.

COPLAND An Outdoor Overture

BARBER Violin Concerto, op. 14
with Amaryn Olmeda

BATES Cello Concerto
with Joshua Roman

GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue
with Angel Stanislav Wang

09/04/2026

Happy Birthday to 2013 Cliburn Gold Medalist Vadym Kholodenko!

Here's just over two minutes of some of the most impressive pianism ever to grace the Bass Performance Hall stage. Please enjoy the stunning conclusion to Stravinsky's Trois mouvements de Pétrouchka. You can watch the full performance at the link in the comments.

North Texas Giving Day is open! Supporters like you help us bring classical music to people who might not otherwise have...
09/03/2026

North Texas Giving Day is open! Supporters like you help us bring classical music to people who might not otherwise have access. Give now to strengthen the work we are doing this season, including the Fourth Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists, free community concerts, Cliburn in the Classroom education programming, our annual recital series, and more.

Donate now through September 17 at the link in the comments and help spread our mission of sharing classical music with all.

It's September! And the Cliburn All-American Concerto Evening is three weeks from today! Join us on Tuesday, September 2...
09/01/2026

It's September! And the Cliburn All-American Concerto Evening is three weeks from today! Join us on Tuesday, September 22 at Bass Performance Hall for the ultimate celebration of America 250 as three extraordinary American soloists perform three iconic American concertos with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Spano.

Get your tickets now at the link in the comments.

08/31/2026

Happy Birthday to 2022 Cliburn Bronze Medalist Dmytro Choni! Please enjoy this exciting excerpt from the finale from Brahms Two Rhapsodies, op. 79!

This piece also appears on Dmytro's latest album "Heartlands" released last May on naïve records. Listen now at the link in the comments.

Have you listened to 2009 Cliburn Gold Medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii's latest single on Deutsche Grammophon - DG ? This encha...
08/28/2026

Have you listened to 2009 Cliburn Gold Medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii's latest single on Deutsche Grammophon - DG ? This enchanting take on Joe Hisaishi's "The Wind Forest" from the classic animated film My Neighbor Totoro is the perfect way to start your weekend.

Listen on Apple Music Classical at the link in the comments.

08/27/2026

We wish a happy birthday to 2013 Cliburn Bronze Medalist Sean Chen with this glorious Courante from Bach's French Suite No. 5, BWV 816!

The great American maestro Leonard Bernstein  was born on this day in 1918. Lenny composed "Touches" for the Sixth Van C...
08/25/2026

The great American maestro Leonard Bernstein was born on this day in 1918. Lenny composed "Touches" for the Sixth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1981. Here's a wonderful photo of Van Cliburn himself reviewing Bernstein's score. Bernstein dedicated the work to his first love, the keyboard.

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201 Main Street, Ste 100
Fort Worth, TX
76102

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