The Cliburn

Known as the «Olympics of piano,» this quadrennial piano competition is the most prestigious in the Americas and ranks alongside storied competitions such as the Tchaikovsky and the Chopin in global stature. The competition was created to honor Fort Worth native Van Cliburn, who became a Cold War cultural icon after winning the first Tchaikovsky competition in 1958. Despite Van Cliburn’s recent passing (RIP), the competition continues to preserve his legacy and place Fort Worth in the world spotlight.
To qualify for the competition is an Olympic feat in itself. Months beforehand, hundreds of applicants are screened first by videotape and then through live auditions at venues worldwide. 30 lucky pianists aged 30 and under eventually get the invite to compete at Bass Hall in Fort Worth. Once they arrive in town, they are treated like stars, living with host families for the entirety of the competition, getting freebies like cowboy boots, being pampered by volunteer «backstage moms,» and basking in the adoring attention of Fort Worth and visiting music fans alike.
It’s not all cushy treatment for the competitors, though. With lots of attention comes lots of pressure, and completing the whole competition is a marathon in itself. This past year (2013), all 30 contestants performed two 45-​minute preliminary round recitals over 4 days. Then, they were whittled down to 12 semifinalists, who, after only 48 hours’ worth of preparation, had to put on a 60-​minute recital and a chamber music performance with the Brentano String Quartet. To cap it off, 6 lucky finalists got to perform two concerti with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, again with only 48 hours’ worth of prep time between rounds.
This year’s winner, Vadym Kholodenko of Ukraine, won the hearts of the Fort Worth audience with his explosive renditions of meaty Russian works like Rachmaninov’s first piano sonata and Prokofiev’s third piano concerto. He also demonstrated significant intellectual depth in his thoughtful interviews during the competition, as well as improvisational ability, having written his own cadenza to Mozart’s 21^st piano concerto while on the plane to Fort Worth. Other finalists like Sean Chen and Fei-​Fei Dong also captured the hearts and minds of the audience, and all the finalists receive several years’ worth of concert gigs and career management, courtesy of the Van Cliburn Foundation.
For spectators, the experience is a pleasure-​filled two weeks’ worth of nonstop piano playing, ranging from comically bombastic and theatrical to incredibly profound. Volunteers, Cliburn staff, and Fort Worth locals are also incredibly generous, engaging, and genuine with their hospitality. Plus, the venue, Bass Hall, adds a magical touch to the whole event, from the angels adorning the exterior façade to the grand interior with its luscious acoustics. For those not able to visit Fort Worth, the Cliburn foundation also produced a free webcast with the fabulous Jade Simmons serving as live host. Almost all competition sessions remain freely available at
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Simply a must-​see event for music lovers, whether live or in person. Also, many winners tour extensively after the Cliburn, so chances are at least one may be in your area for a live performance soon. And, of course, the Cliburn Foundation is worth supporting, to ensure that Van Cliburn’s legacy continues to live on. In addition to the quadrennial competition, the foundation also puts on periodic competitions for amateur pianists, and also brings top musicians to Bass Hall in an annual concert series.