The Cliburn

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Our Mission

"The art of music, with its accent upon humanity, and with its attraction for the deeper emotions of the human soul, symbolizes the universal aspect of man to his shrinking world." - Van Cliburn

The Cliburn believes, as Van Cliburn did, that it is our duty to share excellent classical music with as many people as possible. It is the mission of the Cliburn to advance classical piano music throughout the world. Its international competitions, education programs, and concert series embody an enduring commitment to artistic excellence and the discovery of young artists.

How We Do It Internationally

We produce "one of the world's highest-visibility classical music contests" from Fort Worth, Texas and have for over 50 years (Dallas Morning News). The quadrennial Van Cliburn International Piano Competition attracts only the best international young pianists -- and the fifteenth edition will take place May 25-June 10, 2017, at Bass Performance Hall. The competition is webcast to a large international audience (over half a million people watched online from 155 countries during the 2013 competition) and covered by hundreds of major international news outlets. We work hard for three years following to launch the careers of the six winners, providing media training, personalized support, a PBS documentary, and hundreds of concert bookings across the United States and the world. We also produce two additional international competitions over a four-year cycle -- a Junior Competition for 13- to 17-year olds and an Amateur Competition for 35 years and older -- because dedication to music-making is lifelong.

And What About North Texas?

We are always expanding the number of people we are able to connect with in our own backyard, and we strive to continue to do so over the course of their lifetimes. We start by taking our grand piano to 175 elementary schools each year to introduce over 50,000 students to the intricacies and inspiration of classical music through fun, interactive, exploratory programs. We reach them at an early age to open a window, to stimulate, and to instill love for and familiarity with music. For all music lovers, we bring the world's leading and emerging classical musicians for brilliant concerts at the city's finest venues, like Bass Hall, the Kimbell, the Modern, Live Oak, and Sundance Square. And for those who can't make it to those performances, Cliburn in the Community takes excellent young artists everywhere from community and senior centers to civic and social service organizations. During the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, those outreach efforts expand to include Adopt-a-Competitor in elementary schools; a banner contest where local kids compete to have their Cliburn-centric art displayed downtown; and lot more free concerts and educational programs so that all can take part in the international event.

The Cliburn
201 Main St., Suite 100
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817.738.6536
www.cliburn.org