Celebrating Cliburn’s legacy
The name Van Cliburn has long been associated with the recognition and celebration of outstanding musicians. The Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival continues this proud tradition
Since its launch in 1962, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has propelled the careers of many remarkable artists. The quadrennial event, known simply as the Cliburn, attracts top talents from around the world to its base in Fort Worth, Texas, with finalists guaranteed handsome cash prizes and prestigious international concerts.
But that’s not all: Cliburn’s passionate belief in classical music’s power to build ‘friendships, memories and strengthened artistic determination’ also led to the launch of the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival in 2015.
This competition, open to pianists aged 13-17, is set to celebrate its second edition from 31 May to
8 June 2019 on the campus of SMU.
The 2019 Junior Competition, the first major Cliburn programme to take place in Dallas, Texas, offers matchless experiences to its participants, from a final date with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Ruth Reinhardt to workshop sessions with top artists (including an international jury headed by Alessio Bax), performances in the community and one-to-one mentoring.
‘We’re making a Cliburn camp,’ comments Jacques Marquis, the competition’s President and CEO. ‘The festival atmosphere and the sharing and learning process belong to the Cliburn Junior. We want them to learn from our wonderful jury, from esteemed Cliburn laureates and from each other. It’s about opening as many windows of opportunity as possible.’