We are thrilled to announce the major elements of the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, taking place May 27–June 12, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas USA. Applications are open now and are due October 15, 2020. 

As we prepare for each competition, we carefully evaluate each element in order to constantly improve. How can we attract the top competitors? Which international artists can we bring onto the jury and into the Cliburn family? How can we best inform the jurors’ decisions through the performances that the competitors give? How can we reach more and more people with classical music? What can we offer our winners to better support them into their careers?

The result of much of that work is below, with more announcements to come over the next 19 months. 

• The outstanding jury comprises some of the best performing pianists of our time; nine of the 10 are new to the Cliburn jury. 
• We’ve added an additional concerto in the Final Round, replacing the chamber music; we believe this will give the jury a better artistic picture of the young musicians and also help the competitors develop the repertoire that is important for their careers. 
• And we are pleased to be returning to TCU, the Cliburn’s original home: we will be presenting the first two rounds of the Competition at their brand-new Van Cliburn Concert Hall, before moving to Bass Performance Hall for the Semifinals and Finals. 

We are setting the foundation for a fantastic 2021 Competition.

Jacques Marquis
Cliburn President and CEO

The Cliburn proudly presents the jury for the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Marin Alsop, jury chairman (United States), Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (France), Rico Gulda (Austria), Andreas Haefliger (Switzerland), Wu Han (Taiwan/United States), Stephen Hough (United Kingdom), Anne-Marie McDermott (United States), Gabriela Montero (Venezuela), Orli Shaham (Israel/United States), and Lilya Zilberstein (Russia). The assembled jury—nine of whom are new to the Cliburn Competition—represents some of the most prominent voices in piano today, whose active careers and exceptional artistry continue to help shape the landscape of classical music.

The five-member screening jury comprises of Angela Cheng (Canada), Arnaldo Cohen (Brazil), Christopher Elton (United Kingdom), Alexander Kobrin (Russia), and Anton Nel (South Africa/United States). All members of the panel combine distinguished performance careers with a commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. The screening jury will travel for 5 weeks in January and February 2021 to select the 30 competitors from a large pool of applicants.

The Cliburn’s longtime artistic collaborator, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra—which has performed in every Van Cliburn International Piano Competition since the first in 1962—will again join competitors on stage at Bass Performance Hall. Famed conductor and “expert in 18th-century style” Nicholas McGegan performs Mozart concertos with semifinalists, as he did in the 2017 Cliburn Competition. And distinguished and innovative conductor Marin Alsop makes her debut appearance at the Cliburn podium, performing two additional concertos with finalists—new to this competition.

The Cliburn is pleased to return to its original home on the campus of TCU and will host the Preliminary and Quarterfinal Rounds at the university’s new 700-seat Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU, fittingly named to honor our inspiration and namesake. The Semifinal and Final Rounds will again be held in Bass Performance Hall, the Cliburn’s home since 2001 and downtown Fort Worth’s 2042-seat stunning cultural jewel.

The Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities. First-prize winners of previous Van Cliburn International Piano Competitions are not eligible to compete. Applicants must have been born after June 12, 1990, and on or before May 27, 2003.

Videos will be submitted through the online application process. Submissions must be between 35 and 40 minutes in length. The repertoire will consist of works chosen by the pianist and may be selected from works offered for the Competition recital rounds. Only complete works will be accepted. The video must be filmed with the pianist’s face and hands in the frame at all times.

ROUNDS & REPERTOIRE

Screening Auditions (January/February 2021)

• Approximately 135 applicants perform 40-minute recitals in eight cities across Asia, Europe, and North America 

Preliminary Round (May 27–29, 2021) Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU

• 30 competitors perform a 40-minute recital, to include commissioned work of 4-6 minutes by Stephen Hough

Quarterfinal Round (May 30–31, 2021) Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU

• 18 competitors perform a 40-minute recital

Semifinal Round (June 2–6, 2021) Bass Performance Hall

• 12 competitors in two phases:

1. 60-minute recital
2. Mozart concerto to be selected from a list with the FWSO and conductor Nicholas McGegan

Final Round (June 8–12, 2021) Bass Performance Hall

• 6 competitors perform two concertos, to be selected from two separate lists, with the FWSO and conductor Marin Alsop.

Click HERE for complete repertoire information.

IMPORTANT DATES

January 2020–Prizes and Career Management Package Announced
Spring 2020–Premium Ticket Subscription Packages On Sale
Fall 2020–Additional Ticket Subscription Packages On Sale
October 15, 2020–Applications Due 
December 15, 2020–Screening Auditions Schedule Announced
Early 2021–Single Tickets On Sale
March 10, 2021–Competitors Announced 
May 27–June 12, 2021–Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition