2025 Cliburn Piano Competition: 30 Pianists Make the Cut

The Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition lands in Fort Worth this May, bringing 30 electrifying young artists from across the world to chase one dream: to turn sound into something unforgettable.

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It begins, as all great rock tours do, with a list. Thirty names, thirty lives, each one chasing the same impossible dream: to play not just perfectly, but meaningfully—to stand in the heat of the spotlight and say something true with nothing but ten fingers and eighty-eight keys. 

This is the Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. And it’s not just another classical music contest—it’s Fort Worth’s own musical moon landing, the kind of artistic summit where genius doesn’t just appear; it burns through. 

From May 21 to June 7, 2025, Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall will transform into temples of sound, where talent from 17 countries converges not to compete, really—but to connect. To breathe life into Rachmaninoff, to tango with Prokofiev, to whisper secrets through Chopin. Some are 18. Some are 30. All are artists on the verge. 

Let’s set the scene. 

Out of 340 dreamers, only 30 made it. A lineup so global it might as well be sponsored by the United Nations, featuring pianists from China to Poland, Ukraine to the United States. Some names you might already know if you're deep in the scene — others will be legends after this. 

There’s Roman Fediurko from Ukraine, only 20 years old, already carrying the kind of intensity that feels like the opening scene of a biopic. There’s Yanjun Chen from China, 23, elegant and fire-bright. There’s Angel Stanislav Wang, 22, born in the U.S. with a name built for marquees. 

And then there’s the rest of them—29 others with backstories that would make for a killer documentary series. Artists with bruised knuckles, sleepless nights, jet-lagged ambitions, and something to prove. Their average age? 25. Their average dream? Limitless. 

The selection process wasn’t easy. First, nine judges—all seasoned pianists and mentors—combed through 340 applications. Then a smaller, fierce group of five narrowed it down to 77. Then came the live auditions in Fort Worth this March. One week. One stage. All heart. 

“You could feel it,” said Cliburn President and CEO Jacques Marquis, sounding more like a tour manager than a classical executive. “Craft, enthusiasm, commitment—these aren’t just notes on a page. These are voices. And we’re lucky to be the stage they sing from.” 

The Tour Schedule: Seven Acts of Greatness 

  • May 14–17: Artists arrive in Fort Worth. They pick their pianos like guitarists picking out axes. It's intimate. It's serious. 
  • May 19: The Opening Dinner & Draw Party at The Worthington Renaissance—the kind of glamorous backstage meet-up you imagine in black and white. 
  • May 21–23: Prelims. Each artist performs 40 minutes, featuring a new work by composer Gabriela Montero. 
  • May 24–25: Quarterfinals. The 18 who remain do it again—another 40 minutes, a new chance to win over hearts and ears. 
  • May 28–June 1: Semifinals. Now 12, they tackle hour-long recitals and Mozart concertos with the Fort Worth Symphony, led by Carlos Miguel Prieto. 
  • June 3–7: Finals. The top six, the legends in the making. Two full concertos each. One selected from a list. One from the soul. 
  • June 7: Awards night. Cash prizes, career deals, the works. Think Grammy night, but for Liszt and Tchaikovsky devotees. 

There’s $265,000 in cash on the table. But that’s not even the best part. The gold medalist also gets a career management package worth over $2 million—international tours, recording deals, mentorships, and the kind of exposure that changes lives. It’s not just a win; it’s ignition. 

Can’t be there in person? No worries. The whole competition will stream globally. The 2022 edition pulled in 60 million views. This year? Expect even more. Because this is the kind of music that goes viral not because it’s loud—but because it’s honest. 

It’s been 63 years since Van Cliburn himself walked into Moscow and made Cold War history with a piano. Since then, the Cliburn has become something bigger than a competition—it’s a heartbeat. A proving ground. A launchpad. A love letter to music. 

And starting this May, that letter gets a new chorus. One filled with 30 voices, hundreds of notes, and one very tuned-in city ready to listen. 

For ticket info, competitor bios, repertoire, and more, head to cliburn.org. Because sometimes, the best place to hear the future—is right where you are. 

THE 2025 CLIBURN COMPETITORS: