Evren Ozel: 2025 Cliburn BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, op. 58 The Cliburn 2026-09-23 | Evren Ozel: 2025 Cliburn BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, op. 58
Crescendo Teaser – Yunchan Lim 임윤찬 Backstage The Cliburn 2023-10-18 | 2022 Cliburn Competition DocumentaryWorldwide distribution details to be announced in the coming months.Crescendo is set against an unprecedented backdrop of global geopolitics as 30 of the world's most promising musicians travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete in the renowned Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Vying for gold and their shot at classical piano stardom, the contestants showcase their talent and voices through six intense, high-stakes performances, with multiple elimination rounds, a discerning panel of jurists, and audiences numbering thousands in person and millions online.Behind the scenes, stories of adversity, sacrifice, and heartbreak drive the pianists to perform at the highest level. As fan favorites and early contenders are eliminated, one unassuming genius rises to the top. Featuring never-before-seen footage of our extraordinary competitors, including Gold Medalist and international sensation Yunchan Lim 임윤찬.Crescendo is directed and produced by Heather Wilk. It is produced by Red Entertainment and the Cliburn. Executive Producers include Red Sanders of Red Entertainment and Jacques Marquis and Maggie Estes of the Cliburn.
Crescendo – 2022 Cliburn Competition Documentary Official Trailer The Cliburn 2023-10-06 | cliburn.org/crescendoWorldwide distribution details to be announced in the coming months.Crescendo is set against an unprecedented backdrop of global geopolitics as 30 of the world's most promising musicians travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete in the renowned Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Vying for gold and their shot at classical piano stardom, the contestants showcase their talent and voices through six intense, high-stakes performances, with multiple elimination rounds, a discerning panel of jurists, and audiences numbering thousands in person and millions online.Behind the scenes, stories of adversity, sacrifice, and heartbreak drive the pianists to perform at the highest level. As fan favorites and early contenders are eliminated, one unassuming genius rises to the top. Featuring never-before-seen footage of our extraordinary competitors, including Gold Medalist and international sensation Yunchan Lim 임윤찬.Crescendo is directed and produced by Heather Wilk. It is produced by Red Entertainment and the Cliburn. Executive Producers include Red Sanders of Red Entertainment and Jacques Marquis and Maggie Estes of the Cliburn.
Join us for the Cliburn Homecoming Concert + Party on October 20, 2023 The Cliburn 2023-10-05 | Get your tickets at cliburn.org/?performance=homecoming-concert-partyA showcase celebration of the Cliburn’s last decade.When Jacques Marquis was named president and CEO of the Cliburn ten years ago, he and his team inherited a treasure that had been passionately built by a host of dedicated leaders in the five decades prior.Working closely with the energetic staff, the gregarious Quebecer continued the Cliburn’s longtime trajectory of growth, developing innovative ways to expand the Cliburn’s brand, reach, and cultural leadership around the world and right here at home.This October, join us on the gorgeous grounds of TX Whiskey Ranch for a uniquely Cliburn experience—a one-night, ten-plus-artist concert event, capped with a jubilant afterparty featuring delicious Texas bites and TX Whiskey drinks.Patrons must be 21 or older to attend this event.Afterparty with food and drink included with ticket.Tickets are lawn seating general admission. Bring a lawn chair and picnic blanket and enjoy a beautiful night of music with stunning views of downtown Fort Worth.FEATURED ARTISTS:Anderson & Roe Piano DuoCliburn Concerts artists & Competition webcast hostsJonathan Beyer, baritoneCliburn Concerts artistAngela Cheng, pianoCliburn Concerts artist & Competition jurorDmytro Choni, piano2022 Cliburn bronze medalistFei-Fei, piano2013 Cliburn finalist, Concerts & Community artistSeokyoung Hong, piano2023 Cliburn Junior winnerDaniel Hsu, piano2017 Cliburn bronze medalist, Concerts & Community artist, & Webcast hostGabriel Kahane, piano & composerCliburn Concerts artistVadym Kholodenko, piano2013 Cliburn gold medalist, Concerts & Community artistJoshua Roman, celloCliburn Concerts artistThomas Yu, piano2016 Cliburn Amateur winnerMusic: Ragtime alla Turca – Anderson & Roe Piano Duo
Nobuyuki Tsujii 辻井伸行 – CHOPIN 12 Etudes, op. 10 The Cliburn 2023-09-13 | Nobuyuki Tsujii 辻井伸行2009 Cliburn Gold Medalist2009 Van Cliburn International Piano CompetitionPreliminary Round RecitalMay 23, 2009Bass Performance Hall I Fort Worth, Texas USACHOPIN 12 Etudes, op. 10About Nobuyuki Tsujii 辻井伸行Described by The Observer as the “definition of virtuosity” Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii (Nobu), who has been blind from birth, won the joint Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009 and has gone on to earn an international reputation for the passion and excitement he brings to his live performances. Nobu’s 2023/24 season opens with a sold-out appearance at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms with Domingo Hindoyan and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, one of several collaborations with the RLPO this season that will see Nobu perform with them again in Liverpool and on tour in Japan in Spring 2024. Other upcoming collaborations as concerto soloist include the Hong Kong Philharmonic under Vasily Petrenko, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, and Macau Symphony Orchestra. As a recitalist, Nobu will also return to the Théâtre des Champs Elysées and the Tsinandali Festival, in addition to numerous solo and concerto appearances across his native Japan including a tour with Klaus Mäkelä conducting the Oslo Philharmonic. Earlier seasons have seen Nobu appear in concert with leading orchestras worldwide including the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, Philharmonia Orchestra, NHK, Seattle and Baltimore symphony orchestras, Münchner Philharmoniker, Filarmonica della Scala, Sinfonieorchester Basel, and Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa. Notable past collaborations also include the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg under Kent Nagano, The Mariinsky Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover under Andrew Manze, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Vasily Petrenko, and BBC Philharmonic under Juanjo Mena. Nobu’s appearances as a recitalist have included performances at prestigious venues worldwide such as Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, the Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall and Royal Albert Hall, the Berliner Philharmonie, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Wiener Musikverein, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, and Singapore Esplanade. An exclusive recording artist for Avex Classics International, Nobu’s growing album catalogue encompasses the breadth of the piano concerto repertoire. It currently includes Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.2 with Vladimir Ashkenazy and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Rachmaninov’s Variations on a theme of Paganini under Vasily Petrenko with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 with Yutaka Sado and the BBC Philharmonic, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5 with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Nobu has also recorded several recital programmes of Chopin, Mozart, Debussy, and Liszt. A live DVD recording of Nobu’s 2011 Carnegie Hall recital was named DVD of the Month by Gramophone, as was his latest DVD release, ‘Touching the Sound - The Improbable Journey of Nobuyuki Tsujii’, a documentary film by Peter Rosen. Nobu’s international tours are supported by All Nippon Airways (ANA) and he gratefully acknowledges their assistance.
Yunchan Lim 임윤찬 – RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 w/New York Philharmonic – Bravo! Vail [Excerpt] The Cliburn 2023-08-02 | From our friends at @BravoVail, 2022 Cliburn Gold Medalist Yunchan Lim 임윤찬 performs RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30 with the@NewYorkPhilharmonic and Marin Alsop, conductor.Recorded live at Bravo! Vail Music Festival on July 26, 2023.Video credit: Bravo! Vail and Tristan Cook.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – CHOPIN 12 Etudes, op. 25 – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-07-01 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize winnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round RecitalWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USACHOPIN 12 Etudes, op. 25About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – JURI SEO Doremi Variations – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-07-01 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize winnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round RecitalWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAJURI SEO Doremi VariationsAbout Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – DUTILLEUX “Choral et variations” from Sonata pour piano – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-29 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize WinnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USADUTILLEUX “Choral et variations” from Sonata pour pianoAbout Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – RACHMANINOV Prelude in G Major, op. 32, no. 5 – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-29 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize WinnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USARACHMANINOV Prelude in G Major, op. 32, no. 5About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – HAYDN Sonata in E Major, Hob. XVI31 (I) – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-29 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize WinnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAHAYDN Sonata in E Major, Hob. XVI:31 (I)About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – CHOPIN Ballade No. 2 in F Major, op. 38 – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-29 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize WinnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USACHOPIN Ballade No. 2 in F Major, op. 38About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – BACH Prelude and Fugue in G-sharp Minor, BWV 863 – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-23 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize WinnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalPreliminary Round RecitalThursday, June 8, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USABACH Prelude and Fugue in G-sharp Minor, BWV 863About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – LISZT Concert Etude No. 2 La leggierezza – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-23 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize WinnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalPreliminary Round RecitalThursday, June 8, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USALISZT Concert Etude No. 2 “La leggierezza”About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – PROKOFIEV Visions fugitives, op. 22, nos. 2, 10, 3 – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-23 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize WinnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalPreliminary Round RecitalThursday, June 8, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAPROKOFIEV Visions fugitives, op. 22, nos. 2, 10, 3About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong – PROKOFIEV Toccata in D Minor, op. 11 – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-23 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize WinnerSouth Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalPreliminary Round RecitalThursday, June 8, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAPROKOFIEV Toccata in D Minor, op. 11About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43 – Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Cliburn 2023-06-19 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영South Korea I 15Bernice Gressman Meyerson First Prize Winner2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalFinal Round Saturday, June 17, 2023Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center I Dallas, Texas USADallas Symphony OrchestraValentina Peleggi, conductorRACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43 About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Yifan Wu 吴一凡 – CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11 – Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Cliburn 2023-06-19 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutYIFAN WU 吴一凡China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalFinal RoundSaturday, June 17, 2023Dallas Symphony OrchestraValentina Peleggi, conductorMeyerson Symphony Center I Dallas, Texas USACHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11About Yifan Wu“With its unique magic power and fascination, classical music is a treasure for our generation, and it waits for us to explore its beauty. It provides us with opportunities to reflect on ourselves and the world. It involves human history, emotions, artistry, which are shared by people around the world. Though we don’t speak the same language, we are touched by the same piece of music. It helps unite people of my generation together and encourages us to strive for peace and love.”When he was very young, Yifan Wu’s grandmother would play the piano for him, and his mother shared this same passion for music. He started lessons when he was 4 and began to fall in love with the piano. At age 9, he was admitted to the Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he has been awarded scholarships each academic year. He says his teacher, Ting Zhou, taught him “to learn music enthusiastically. Now music brings me happiness and gives me greater motivation to learn it further.” He made his recital debut at Steinway Hall in his native Shanghai and his concerto debut with the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, both in 2019. A laureate of several national Chinese competitions, including four first-place finishes, he has not competed since 2018, making the Cliburn Junior his first in five years. He comes to Dallas seeing it as “a good opportunity to improve my piano skills, have a further understanding of music, and most importantly, tap my artistic potential.” Yifan is involved in his school’s badminton club—with weekly matches and/or lectures about the sport—and community cycling team. He also enjoys reading and camping.
Jan Schulmeister – SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22 – Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Cliburn 2023-06-19 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutJAN SCHULMEISTERCzechia I 162023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalFinal RoundSaturday, June 17, 2023Dallas Symphony OrchestraValentina Peleggi, conductorMeyerson Symphony Center I Dallas, Texas USASAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22About Jan Schulmeister“Music is a passion for me. It has the power to affect all movements of the mind, to enchant, to bewitch. Thanks to it, I can speak to people without words, but with the greatest urgency.”Jan Schulmeister belongs to the sixth generation of the Černý-Schulmeister family, well-known in Czechia for musical ability, and began studying piano with his mother, Martina Schulmeisterová, and Eva Zonová at the age of 5. When he was 7, he started participating in competitions, to remarkable results. He has taken home more than 30 first place or other extraordinary awards, both in his home country and at international competitions in Italy, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, Austria, North Macedonia, and the United States. In 2018, he became the youngest member of the Petrof Art Family, under which he has recorded two CDs. Jan currently continues his studies with Martina Schulmeisterová at the Conservatory of P. J. Vejvanovský Kroměříž, and also takes lessons with Alena Vlasáková at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, Czech Republic, and Ewa Kupiec of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien, Hannover, Germany. He has a passion for music education and finding innovative ways to reach younger audiences through concerts: “Together with appropriate explanations from me and from their teachers, we can make the ‘musical stories’ more accessible to them. I am always pleased with the subsequent reactions and interesting questions.” Outside of the practice room and stage, he enjoys reading about music history and astronomy, as well as recreational target shooting.
Final Round Concert – 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival The Cliburn 2023-06-18 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalFinal Round Concert & Awards Ceremony I 2:30 PMSaturday, June 17, 2023Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center I Dallas, Texas USADallas Symphony OrchestraValentina Peleggi, conductorJan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia – SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China – CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 1120-MINUTE INTERMISSIONSeokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea – RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43
Zihan Jin 金子涵 – Semifinal Round Concerto Movement – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-16 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutZIHAN JIN 金子涵China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concerto MovementThursday, June 15, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USALISZT Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124 (II, III, IV)with Mikhail Berestnev, accompanistAbout Zihan Jin“Classical music is the most profound art of mankind. Through the music I find a better world, and I would like to tell my story to the people through these notes and make the world more beautiful.”Zihan Jin’s first piano teacher was his father, who he says filled his life with many different kinds of music since he was born. He has studied with Yun Sun at the Secondary School of Shanghai Conservatory of Music for five years and made both his recital and concerto debuts in the city—his hometown—in 2021. Competition wins include several in China, with victories in Swedish and Swiss contest as well; he also had a video selected for the program of “Global Classical Music Talk” of American Chinese TV, where he won the recording and broadcasting certificate of Talented Young Players. Of his approach to musicmaking, Zihan says: “I would like to sing with my fingers through the sound of the music. And I would like to reach the audience; together we meet the composers and discover inspiration from the great genius of these great composers.” Last year, he watched the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition closely, calling it “the competition of my dreams in the future.” Of his hobbies, he lists reading, playing chamber music, and soccer.
Modan Oyama 大山桃暖 – Semifinal Round Concerto Movement – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-16 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutMODAN OYAMA 大山桃暖Japan I 172023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concerto MovementThursday, June 15, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USASAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22 (II)with Anastasia Markina, accompanistAbout Modan Oyama“Music has emotions, like songs you hear when you’re sad and songs that give you courage. This is why I think it is possible to resonate with your heart by listening to it according to your current feelings. I think classical music has the ability to touch the heart; is deeply rooted in the people.”Modan Oyama started studying classical ballet at 3 years old and piano at 4; both pursuits formed the foundation for his love of self-expression and of the stage at a very early age. When he was 12, he started focusing on the piano in earnest after he auditioned for the anime TV show “Forest of Piano” and was cast to record the main character’s childhood piano performances. He currently attends Osaka Gakugei Senior High School and has studied piano with Keiji Serizawa for 10 years and Ayami Serizawa for 6 years. His next piano revelation came in 2019, when he was attending the Imola Summer Piano Academy and Festival in Italy and first experienced the breadth of the global classical music family: “Ah, the world of the piano is so wide.” Having won eight competitions in Japan and placed in many others, Modan’s hopes for the Cliburn Junior include “being exposed to great music from all around the world” and “meeting and conversing with excellent musicians of my generation.” Outside of the piano, his free time is still very focused on ballet—both dancing and attending performances; he considers it “the foundation of my artistry.”
Yifan Wu 吴一凡 – Semifinal Round Concerto Movement – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-16 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutYIFAN WU 吴一凡China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concerto MovementThursday, June 15, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USACHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11 (III)with Mikhail Berestnev, accompanistAbout Yifan Wu“With its unique magic power and fascination, classical music is a treasure for our generation, and it waits for us to explore its beauty. It provides us with opportunities to reflect on ourselves and the world. It involves human history, emotions, artistry, which are shared by people around the world. Though we don’t speak the same language, we are touched by the same piece of music. It helps unite people of my generation together and encourages us to strive for peace and love.”When he was very young, Yifan Wu’s grandmother would play the piano for him, and his mother shared this same passion for music. He started lessons when he was 4 and began to fall in love with the piano. At age 9, he was admitted to the Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he has been awarded scholarships each academic year. He says his teacher, Ting Zhou, taught him “to learn music enthusiastically. Now music brings me happiness and gives me greater motivation to learn it further.” He made his recital debut at Steinway Hall in his native Shanghai and his concerto debut with the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, both in 2019. A laureate of several national Chinese competitions, including four first-place finishes, he has not competed since 2018, making the Cliburn Junior his first in five years. He comes to Dallas seeing it as “a good opportunity to improve my piano skills, have a further understanding of music, and most importantly, tap my artistic potential.” Yifan is involved in his school’s badminton club—with weekly matches and/or lectures about the sport—and community cycling team. He also enjoys reading and camping.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – Semifinal Round Concerto Movement – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-16 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영South Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concerto MovementThursday, June 15, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USARACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43 (vars. 18-24)with Anastasia Markina, accompanistAbout Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Krorea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Zhonghua Wei 魏中华 – Semifinal Round Concerto Movement – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-16 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutZHONGHUA WEI 魏中华China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concerto MovementThursday, June 15, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USALISZT Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124 (II, III, IV)with Mikhail Berestnev, accompanistAbout Zhonghua Wei“Classical music is my best friend who can comfort me, inspire me, encourage me, and chat with me in my heart. It is an eternal, unsurpassed culture, and I hope I can become a narrator of music to help spread it.”Zhonghua Wei began his piano studies piano with Jay Sun, his current teacher, when he was 5 years old, gave his solo recital debut at the age of 10, and by the age of 12 had studied the complete Well-Tempered Clavier of Bach, etudes of Chopin and Liszt, and Mozart Sonatas. Currently attending the Xinghai Conservatory Middle School, he has placed in several national Chinese competitions, including Pearl River Kayserburg (first), Steinway (second), and Xinghai Cup (first). And he just won the 2023 Hilton Head International Competition in South Carolina. Of his approach to music, he says: “The music itself drives me to play it. I think it is so interesting and beautiful—carrying life, history, and feelings—and I want to find out these things, to perform what the composers want to say, to integrate my own understanding in it.” Coming to the Cliburn Junior, he’s looking forward to receiving feedback from the jurors and other experts, and to hearing and making friends with the participants. Outside of the piano, Zhonghua enjoys reading, badminton, biking, and meditation.
Jan Schulmeister – Semifinal Round Concerto Movement – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-16 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutJAN SCHULMEISTERCzechia I 162023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concerto MovementThursday, June 15, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USASAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22 (II)with Anastasia Markina, accompanistAbout Jan Schulmeister“Music is a passion for me. It has the power to affect all movements of the mind, to enchant, to bewitch. Thanks to it, I can speak to people without words, but with the greatest urgency.”Jan Schulmeister belongs to the sixth generation of the Černý-Schulmeister family, well-known in Czechia for musical ability, and began studying piano with his mother, Martina Schulmeisterová, and Eva Zonová at the age of 5. When he was 7, he started participating in competitions, to remarkable results. He has taken home more than 30 first place or other extraordinary awards, both in his home country and at international competitions in Italy, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, Austria, North Macedonia, and the United States. In 2018, he became the youngest member of the Petrof Art Family, under which he has recorded two CDs. Jan currently continues his studies with Martina Schulmeisterová at the Conservatory of P. J. Vejvanovský Kroměříž, and also takes lessons with Alena Vlasáková at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, Czech Republic, and Ewa Kupiec of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien, Hannover, Germany. He has a passion for music education and finding innovative ways to reach younger audiences through concerts: “Together with appropriate explanations from me and from their teachers, we can make the ‘musical stories’ more accessible to them. I am always pleased with the subsequent reactions and interesting questions.” Outside of the practice room and stage, he enjoys reading about music history and astronomy, as well as recreational target shooting.
Semifinal Round Concert 3 – 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival The Cliburn 2023-06-16 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concert 3 I 7:00 PMPhase II: 6 competitors perform one concerto movement with piano accompanimentThursday, June 15, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAJan Schulmeister, 16, Czechia – SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22 (II)Zhonghua Wei 魏中华, 14, China – LISZT Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124 (II, III, IV)Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South Korea – RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43 (vars. 18-24)20-MINUTE INTERMISSIONYifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, China – CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11 (III)Modan Oyama 大山桃暖, 17, Japan – SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22 (II)Zihan Jin 金子涵, 14, China – LISZT Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124 (II, III, IV)Piano accompanists Mikhail Berestnev & Anastasia Markina
Modan Oyama 大山桃暖 – Semifinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-15 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutMODAN OYAMA 大山桃暖Japan I 172023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round RecitalWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USASCARLATTI Sonata in A Major, K. 24CHOPIN Etude in C Major, op. 10, no. 7CHOPIN Polonaise in F-sharp Minor, op. 44LIEBERMANN Nocturne No. 4, op. 38STRAVINSKY Trois mouvements de PétrouchkaAbout Modan Oyama“Music has emotions, like songs you hear when you’re sad and songs that give you courage. This is why I think it is possible to resonate with your heart by listening to it according to your current feelings. I think classical music has the ability to touch the heart; is deeply rooted in the people.”Modan Oyama started studying classical ballet at 3 years old and piano at 4; both pursuits formed the foundation for his love of self-expression and of the stage at a very early age. When he was 12, he started focusing on the piano in earnest after he auditioned for the anime TV show “Forest of Piano” and was cast to record the main character’s childhood piano performances. He currently attends Osaka Gakugei Senior High School and has studied piano with Keiji Serizawa for 10 years and Ayami Serizawa for 6 years. His next piano revelation came in 2019, when he was attending the Imola Summer Piano Academy and Festival in Italy and first experienced the breadth of the global classical music family: “Ah, the world of the piano is so wide.” Having won eight competitions in Japan and placed in many others, Modan’s hopes for the Cliburn Junior include “being exposed to great music from all around the world” and “meeting and conversing with excellent musicians of my generation.” Outside of the piano, his free time is still very focused on ballet—both dancing and attending performances; he considers it “the foundation of my artistry.”
Zihan Jin 金子涵 – Semifinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-15 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutZIHAN JIN 金子涵China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round RecitalWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAZHANG ZHAO Pi HuangLISZT “Tarantella” from Venezia e NapoliCHOPIN Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, op. 35LISZT Transcendental Etude No. 10 in F MinorAbout Zihan Jin“Classical music is the most profound art of mankind. Through the music I find a better world, and I would like to tell my story to the people through these notes and make the world more beautiful.”Zihan Jin’s first piano teacher was his father, who he says filled his life with many different kinds of music since he was born. He has studied with Yun Sun at the Secondary School of Shanghai Conservatory of Music for five years and made both his recital and concerto debuts in the city—his hometown—in 2021. Competition wins include several in China, with victories in Swedish and Swiss contest as well; he also had a video selected for the program of “Global Classical Music Talk” of American Chinese TV, where he won the recording and broadcasting certificate of Talented Young Players. Of his approach to musicmaking, Zihan says: “I would like to sing with my fingers through the sound of the music. And I would like to reach the audience; together we meet the composers and discover inspiration from the great genius of these great composers.” Last year, he watched the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition closely, calling it “the competition of my dreams in the future.” Of his hobbies, he lists reading, playing chamber music, and soccer.
Yifan Wu 吴一凡 – Semifinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-15 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutYIFAN WU 吴一凡China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round RecitalWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USACOUPERIN “Allemande la Verneville” from Pièces de clavecinBRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Paganini, op. 35, Book IICUI SHIGUANG Birds Chirp on the Silent HillBARBER Sonata, op. 26About Yifan Wu“With its unique magic power and fascination, classical music is a treasure for our generation, and it waits for us to explore its beauty. It provides us with opportunities to reflect on ourselves and the world. It involves human history, emotions, artistry, which are shared by people around the world. Though we don’t speak the same language, we are touched by the same piece of music. It helps unite people of my generation together and encourages us to strive for peace and love.”When he was very young, Yifan Wu’s grandmother would play the piano for him, and his mother shared this same passion for music. He started lessons when he was 4 and began to fall in love with the piano. At age 9, he was admitted to the Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he has been awarded scholarships each academic year. He says his teacher, Ting Zhou, taught him “to learn music enthusiastically. Now music brings me happiness and gives me greater motivation to learn it further.” He made his recital debut at Steinway Hall in his native Shanghai and his concerto debut with the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, both in 2019. A laureate of several national Chinese competitions, including four first-place finishes, he has not competed since 2018, making the Cliburn Junior his first in five years. He comes to Dallas seeing it as “a good opportunity to improve my piano skills, have a further understanding of music, and most importantly, tap my artistic potential.” Yifan is involved in his school’s badminton club—with weekly matches and/or lectures about the sport—and community cycling team. He also enjoys reading and camping.
Semifinal Round Concert 1 – 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival The Cliburn 2023-06-15 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concert 1 I 2:30 PMWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USA2:30 p.m. – Jan Schulmeister, 16, CzechiaRANDALL MEYERS “Mantra” from Simplexity for PianoRACHMANINOV Six moments musicaux, op. 163:12 p.m. – Zhonghua Wei 魏中华, 14, ChinaUNSUK CHIN Etudes Nos. 1, 4, 5SCHUMANN Symphonic Etudes, op. 1320-MINUTE INTERMISSION4:12 p.m. – Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South KoreaJURI SEO Doremi VariationsCHOPIN 12 Etudes, op. 25
Semifinal Round Concert 2 – 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival The Cliburn 2023-06-15 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round Concert 2 I 7:00 PMWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USA7:00 p.m. – Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, ChinaCOUPERIN “Allemande la Verneville” from Pièces de clavecinBRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Paganini, op. 35, Book IICUI SHIGUANG Birds Chirp on the Silent HillBARBER Sonata, op. 267:42 p.m. – Zihan Jin 金子涵, 14, ChinaZHANG ZHAO Pi HuangLISZT “Tarantella” from Venezia e NapoliCHOPIN Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, op. 35LISZT Transcendental Etude No. 10 in F Minor20-MINUTE INTERMISSION8:42 p.m. – Modan Oyama 大山桃暖, 17, JapanSCARLATTI Sonata in A Major, K. 24CHOPIN Etude in C Major, op. 10, no. 7CHOPIN Polonaise in F-sharp Minor, op. 44LIEBERMANN Nocturne No. 4, op. 38STRAVINSKY Trois mouvements de Pétrouchka
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – Semifinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-15 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영South Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round RecitalWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAJURI SEO Doremi VariationsCHOPIN 12 Etudes, op. 25About Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Krorea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Zhonghua Wei 魏中华 – Semifinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-15 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutZHONGHUA WEI 魏中华China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round RecitalWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAUNSUK CHIN Etudes Nos. 1, 4, 5SCHUMANN Symphonic Etudes, op. 13About Zhonghua Wei“Classical music is my best friend who can comfort me, inspire me, encourage me, and chat with me in my heart. It is an eternal, unsurpassed culture, and I hope I can become a narrator of music to help spread it.”Zhonghua Wei began his piano studies piano with Jay Sun, his current teacher, when he was 5 years old, gave his solo recital debut at the age of 10, and by the age of 12 had studied the complete Well-Tempered Clavier of Bach, etudes of Chopin and Liszt, and Mozart Sonatas. Currently attending the Xinghai Conservatory Middle School, he has placed in several national Chinese competitions, including Pearl River Kayserburg (first), Steinway (second), and Xinghai Cup (first). And he just won the 2023 Hilton Head International Competition in South Carolina. Of his approach to music, he says: “The music itself drives me to play it. I think it is so interesting and beautiful—carrying life, history, and feelings—and I want to find out these things, to perform what the composers want to say, to integrate my own understanding in it.” Coming to the Cliburn Junior, he’s looking forward to receiving feedback from the jurors and other experts, and to hearing and making friends with the participants. Outside of the piano, Zhonghua enjoys reading, badminton, biking, and meditation.
Jan Schulmeister – Semifinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-15 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutJAN SCHULMEISTERCzechia I 162023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalSemifinal Round RecitalWednesday, June 14, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USARANDALL MEYERS “Mantra” from Simplexity for PianoRACHMANINOV Six moments musicaux, op. 16About Jan Schulmeister“Music is a passion for me. It has the power to affect all movements of the mind, to enchant, to bewitch. Thanks to it, I can speak to people without words, but with the greatest urgency.”Jan Schulmeister belongs to the sixth generation of the Černý-Schulmeister family, well-known in Czechia for musical ability, and began studying piano with his mother, Martina Schulmeisterová, and Eva Zonová at the age of 5. When he was 7, he started participating in competitions, to remarkable results. He has taken home more than 30 first place or other extraordinary awards, both in his home country and at international competitions in Italy, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, Austria, North Macedonia, and the United States. In 2018, he became the youngest member of the Petrof Art Family, under which he has recorded two CDs. Jan currently continues his studies with Martina Schulmeisterová at the Conservatory of P. J. Vejvanovský Kroměříž, and also takes lessons with Alena Vlasáková at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, Czech Republic, and Ewa Kupiec of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien, Hannover, Germany. He has a passion for music education and finding innovative ways to reach younger audiences through concerts: “Together with appropriate explanations from me and from their teachers, we can make the ‘musical stories’ more accessible to them. I am always pleased with the subsequent reactions and interesting questions.” Outside of the practice room and stage, he enjoys reading about music history and astronomy, as well as recreational target shooting.
Modan Oyama 大山桃暖 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-13 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutMODAN OYAMA 大山桃暖Japan I 172023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSunday, June 11, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAMOZART Sonata No. 2 in F Major, K. 280 (I)CHOPIN Nocturne in B Major, op. 9, no. 3LISZT Réminiscences de Don JuanAbout Modan Oyama“Music has emotions, like songs you hear when you’re sad and songs that give you courage. This is why I think it is possible to resonate with your heart by listening to it according to your current feelings. I think classical music has the ability to touch the heart; is deeply rooted in the people.”Modan Oyama started studying classical ballet at 3 years old and piano at 4; both pursuits formed the foundation for his love of self-expression and of the stage at a very early age. When he was 12, he started focusing on the piano in earnest after he auditioned for the anime TV show “Forest of Piano” and was cast to record the main character’s childhood piano performances. He currently attends Osaka Gakugei Senior High School and has studied piano with Keiji Serizawa for 10 years and Ayami Serizawa for 6 years. His next piano revelation came in 2019, when he was attending the Imola Summer Piano Academy and Festival in Italy and first experienced the breadth of the global classical music family: “Ah, the world of the piano is so wide.” Having won eight competitions in Japan and placed in many others, Modan’s hopes for the Cliburn Junior include “being exposed to great music from all around the world” and “meeting and conversing with excellent musicians of my generation.” Outside of the piano, his free time is still very focused on ballet—both dancing and attending performances; he considers it “the foundation of my artistry.”
Sizhe Wang 王思哲 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-13 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSIZHE WANG 王思哲China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSunday, June 11, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USACHOPIN Nocturne in D-flat Major, op. 27, no. 2MOZART Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330 (I)KABALEVSKY Sonata No. 3 in F Major, op. 46SANCAN ToccataAbout Sizhe Wang“To me, the existence of Classical Music in our modern generation is so mysteriously attractive, with such beautiful ancient color and light that nothing in this real world can compare with. It’s like a timeless fruit for the development of our civilization.”Sizhe Wang began learning and practicing Chinese calligraphy at the age of 4, earlier than the piano. He remains deeply committed to the artform, which he says “constantly gives me fresh inspiration about music;” he is also “moved by the magical combination of ‘when East meets West,’” himself being “deeply rooted in East Asian culture” while learning and performing music from the West. He’s studied piano with with his current teacher, Vivian Li, for seven years and has attended the Middle School affiliated to Xinghai Conservatory of Music since 2021. Competition prizes include contests in Germany, Poland, China, and the United States; in 2017, at the age of 9, he made both his recital debut in Guangzhou and his concerto debut in Todi, Italy. The Cliburn Junior will be his first in-person piano competition in three years; “it will be the most phenomenal highlight of my life so far.” Outside of the arts, Sizhe is a competitive swimmer who led his school’s swimming team to the national finals of the men’s 100m freestyle in the junior category. He’s also a big fan of trains and railroads, and has a significant collection of materials related to the railroad development of Southern China.
Zihan Jin 金子涵 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-13 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutZIHAN JIN 金子涵China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalPreliminary Round RecitalSunday, June 11, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USABEETHOVEN Sonata No. 11 in B-flat Major, op. 22 (I)CHOPIN Berceuse in D-flat Major, op. 57LISZT Rhapsodie espagnoleAbout Zihan Jin“Classical music is the most profound art of mankind. Through the music I find a better world, and I would like to tell my story to the people through these notes and make the world more beautiful.”Zihan Jin’s first piano teacher was his father, who he says filled his life with many different kinds of music since he was born. He has studied with Yun Sun at the Secondary School of Shanghai Conservatory of Music for five years and made both his recital and concerto debuts in the city—his hometown—in 2021. Competition wins include several in China, with victories in Swedish and Swiss contest as well; he also had a video selected for the program of “Global Classical Music Talk” of American Chinese TV, where he won the recording and broadcasting certificate of Talented Young Players. Of his approach to musicmaking, Zihan says: “I would like to sing with my fingers through the sound of the music. And I would like to reach the audience; together we meet the composers and discover inspiration from the great genius of these great composers.” Last year, he watched the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition closely, calling it “the competition of my dreams in the future.” Of his hobbies, he lists reading, playing chamber music, and soccer.
Alyssa Gabrilovich – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-13 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutALYSSA GABRILOVICHUnited States I 172023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSunday, June 11, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USASHOSTAKOVICH Prelude and Fugue in E Major, op. 87, no. 9BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 6 in F Major, op. 10, no. 2 (I)OSSIP GABRILOVICH Melody in E Minor, op. 8MESSIAEN “Première communion de la vierge” from Vingt regards sur l’enfant-JésusRAVEL “Une barque sur l’océan” from MiroirsAbout Alyssa Gabrilovich“Regardless of our differences, we understand each other through classical music. It is amazing that even today, musicians play pieces that were composed centuries ago. Although society has been changing due to exponential growth of technology, the art of classical music could never be replaced.”Alyssa Gabrilovich, a junior at Harriton High School near Philadelphia, has studied piano with Dr. Igor Resnianski at the Nelly Berman School of Music for nine years. She says her primary goal when performing is “being able to elicit emotions in other people through the use of imagination” and finds inspiration in the “distinctive colors, images, and meanings that each piece possesses.” Her dedication to her art has certainly been evidenced in her 43 competition prizes to date, as well as scholarships from the Chopin Foundation of the United States, EONClassics, and the Chicago and Philadelphia International Music Festivals. She’s been to Fort Worth twice for the PianoTexas International Festival & Academy and has also participated in festivals in New Orleans, Columbia, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Her host of concert engagements to date have included appearances at Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall), Kimmel Center, and Merkin Hall; she’s been featured on WWFM (New Jersey), WRTI (Philadelphia), and NPR’s From the Top. Her love of culture extends to other areas of her life: she speaks English, Spanish, and Russian; participates in the Asian Culture Club at her school; and enjoys traveling and singing.
Tiankun Ma 马天坤 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-13 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutTIANKUN MA 马天坤China I 162023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSunday, June 11, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAMOZART Sonata No. 9 in D Major, K. 311 (I)CHOPIN Mazurka in A Minor, op. 17, no. 4LIGETI Etude No. 13 “L’escalier du diable”CHOPIN Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major, op. 61SANCAN ToccataAbout Tiankun Ma“The beauty of music is closer to the emotion itself than other artistic beauty. It comes from emotion, expresses emotion, and arouses emotion. I want to express my yearning for and pursuit of beautiful things through my performance.”Tiankun Ma made his recital debut at the Henan Art Center in Zhengzhou in October 2016, at the age of 9. The following Fall, he began attending the Middle School Affiliated to China Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he has now studied with Yameng Huang for almost six years. He calls himself outgoing, conscientious, and in possession of strong self-control; he’s looking forward to the high-level competition at the Cliburn Junior and the learning opportunities that it will bring. Of classical music’s role in society, Tiankun believes that “the development and popularization of classical music is a symbol of the civilization of a nation and a city.” In addition to reading and sports, his musical curiosity leads him to explore operatic, symphonic, and chamber works in his spare time.
Yifan Wu 吴一凡 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-13 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutYIFAN WU 吴一凡China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSunday, June 11, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAHAYDN Sonata in E Major, Hob. XVI:31 (I)CHOPIN Nocturne in C Minor, op. 48, no. 1LISZT Réminiscences de NormaAbout Yifan Wu“With its unique magic power and fascination, classical music is a treasure for our generation, and it waits for us to explore its beauty. It provides us with opportunities to reflect on ourselves and the world. It involves human history, emotions, artistry, which are shared by people around the world. Though we don’t speak the same language, we are touched by the same piece of music. It helps unite people of my generation together and encourages us to strive for peace and love.”When he was very young, Yifan Wu’s grandmother would play the piano for him, and his mother shared this same passion for music. He started lessons when he was 4 and began to fall in love with the piano. At age 9, he was admitted to the Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he has been awarded scholarships each academic year. He says his teacher, Ting Zhou, taught him “to learn music enthusiastically. Now music brings me happiness and gives me greater motivation to learn it further.” He made his recital debut at Steinway Hall in his native Shanghai and his concerto debut with the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, both in 2019. A laureate of several national Chinese competitions, including four first-place finishes, he has not competed since 2018, making the Cliburn Junior his first in five years. He comes to Dallas seeing it as “a good opportunity to improve my piano skills, have a further understanding of music, and most importantly, tap my artistic potential.” Yifan is involved in his school’s badminton club—with weekly matches and/or lectures about the sport—and community cycling team. He also enjoys reading and camping.
Quarterfinal Round Concert 4 – 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival The Cliburn 2023-06-12 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round Concert 2 I 7:00 PMSunday, June 11, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USA7:00 p.m. – Sizhe Wang 王思哲, 14, ChinaCHOPIN Nocturne in D-flat Major, op. 27, no. 2MOZART Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330 (I)KABALEVSKY Sonata No. 3 in F Major, op. 46SANCAN Toccata7:32 p.m. – Zihan Jin 金子涵, 14, ChinaBEETHOVEN Sonata No. 11 in B-flat Major, op. 22 (I)CHOPIN Berceuse in D-flat Major, op. 57LISZT Rhapsodie espagnole20-MINUTE INTERMISSION8:22 p.m. – Modan Oyama 大山桃暖, 17, JapanMOZART Sonata No. 2 in F Major, K. 280 (I)CHOPIN Nocturne in B Major, op. 9, no. 3LISZT Réminiscences de Don Juan
Quarterfinal Round Concert 3 – 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival The Cliburn 2023-06-11 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round Concert 3 I 2:30 PMSunday, June 11, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USA2:30 p.m. – Yifan Wu 吴一凡, 14, ChinaHAYDN Sonata in E Major, Hob. XVI:31 (I)CHOPIN Nocturne in C Minor, op. 48, no. 1LISZT Réminiscences de Norma3:02 p.m. – Tiankun Ma 马天坤, 16, ChinaMOZART Sonata No. 9 in D Major, K. 311 (I)CHOPIN Mazurka in A Minor, op. 17, no. 4LIGETI Etude No. 13 “L’escalier du diable”CHOPIN Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major, op. 61SANCAN Toccata20-MINUTE INTERMISSION3:52 p.m. – Alyssa Gabrilovich, 17, United StatesSHOSTAKOVICH Prelude and Fugue in E Major, op. 87, no. 9BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 6 in F Major, op. 10, no. 2 (I)OSSIP GABRILOVICH Melody in E Minor, op. 8MESSIAEN “Première communion de la vierge” from Vingt regards sur l’enfant-JésusRAVEL “Une barque sur l’océan” from Miroirs
Zhonghua Wei 魏中华 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-11 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutZHONGHUA WEI 魏中华China I 142023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAMOZART Sonata No. 14 in C Minor, K. 457 (I)TCHAIKOVSKY Romance in F Major, op. 51, no. 5BRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Paganini, op. 35, Book IAbout Zhonghua Wei“Classical music is my best friend who can comfort me, inspire me, encourage me, and chat with me in my heart. It is an eternal, unsurpassed culture, and I hope I can become a narrator of music to help spread it.”Zhonghua Wei began his piano studies piano with Jay Sun, his current teacher, when he was 5 years old, gave his solo recital debut at the age of 10, and by the age of 12 had studied the complete Well-Tempered Clavier of Bach, etudes of Chopin and Liszt, and Mozart Sonatas. Currently attending the Xinghai Conservatory Middle School, he has placed in several national Chinese competitions, including Pearl River Kayserburg (first), Steinway (second), and Xinghai Cup (first). And he just won the 2023 Hilton Head International Competition in South Carolina. Of his approach to music, he says: “The music itself drives me to play it. I think it is so interesting and beautiful—carrying life, history, and feelings—and I want to find out these things, to perform what the composers want to say, to integrate my own understanding in it.” Coming to the Cliburn Junior, he’s looking forward to receiving feedback from the jurors and other experts, and to hearing and making friends with the participants. Outside of the piano, Zhonghua enjoys reading, badminton, biking, and meditation.
Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-11 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutSEOKYOUNG HONG 홍석영South Korea I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USARACHMANINOV Prelude in G Major, op. 32, no. 5HAYDN Sonata in E Major, Hob. XVI:31 (I)CHOPIN Ballade No. 2 in F Major, op. 38DUTILLEUX “Choral et variations” from Sonata pour pianoAbout Seokyoung Hong“I hope to be a pianist that can remind and somehow transfer the audience’s own personal stories. From those reminded experiences, I hope they find happiness, relief, and even nostalgia. Beyond thinking about the stories from the past, I also hope they can imagine lots of things while and after listening to my performance.”Seokyoung Hong has had several first or second-place finishes at international competitions in Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Following two years at the Yewon School in his native Seoul, he moved to Boston in 2022 to study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with HaeSun Paik while also attending the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He’s found himself inspired by his new environment: “Nature inspires me in various ways—its huge size, marvelous detail, the beauty of nature itself, and a lot more. For instance, the enormous entities like the ocean and the universe motivate me but also make me feel that I am only a small human.” Seokyoung finds inspiration and motivation from the two most recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, South Korea’s Yekwon Sunwoo and Yunchan Lim, which was part of his motivation for taking part in the Cliburn Junior. He also hopes to develop his piano playing and artistry, as well as to build experience performing for large audiences. His interest in composing leads him to constantly study, he says, but he also enjoys riding his bike, playing chess, and participating in the table tennis club at school.
Taige Wang 王泰格 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-11 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutTAIGE WANGUnited States I 132023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USACHOPIN Nocturne in B Major, op. 9, no. 3BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7 (I)LISZT Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi SonataAbout Taige Wang“I hope you can feel and be touched by what I intend to deliver from my music: the joy and misery, the hope and helplessness, the hatred and redemption—that you would say you were so moved, that you could not find words to describe.”Taige Wang began piano at the age of 4 and gave his first public performance that year. The next year, he performed live on China Central Television and won his first competition; then, in 2018, at the age of 8, he gave his first full recital by the invitation of Steinway & Sons in Dalian, China, where he was born. He now has 35 competition wins to his name across Asia, Europe, and North America, and performance highlights include 2022 appearances at Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium, the Nixon Presidential Library, and Ognisko Polskie – the Polish Hearth in South Kensington, London, in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent. Taige is also a prize-winning composer, with a passion for making audiences “easily empathize” with his music, often by drawing inspiration from everyday life. His Toothbrush Rhapsody Trio “describes everyone’s morning scene—brushing teeth. When people see the title, they become curious to know what this music is and are interested to listen to it.” This year, he was commissioned by the Chamber Society of Lincoln Center to write a piano trio; he’ll perform its debut at Alice Tully Hall in April. He currently attends The Juilliard School Pre-College and studies with Yoheved Kaplinsky and William Grant Naboré and is a From the Top fellow. Outside of piano, he loves solving Rubik’s Cubes and once founded a cubing club at his school; he plays violin and likes Italian Opera; and he used to compete in tennis, earning an award from the United States Tennis Association junior league. Taige received the prestigious Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2022.
Quarterfinal Round Concert 2 – 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival The Cliburn 2023-06-11 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round Concert 2 I 7:00 PMSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USA7:00 p.m. – Zhonghua Wei 魏中华, 14, ChinaMOZART Sonata No. 14 in C Minor, K. 457 (I)TCHAIKOVSKY Romance in F Major, op. 51, no. 5BRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Paganini, op. 35, Book I7:32 p.m. – Taige Wang, 13, United StatesCHOPIN Nocturne in B Major, op. 9, no. 3BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7 (I)LISZT Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata20-MINUTE INTERMISSION8:22 p.m. – Seokyoung Hong 홍석영, 15, South KoreaRACHMANINOV Prelude in G Major, op. 32, no. 5HAYDN Sonata in E Major, Hob. XVI:31 (I)CHOPIN Ballade No. 2 in F Major, op. 38DUTILLEUX “Choral et variations” from Sonata pour piano
Eddison Chen – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-11 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutEDDISON CHENUnited States I 132023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAHAYDN Sonata in A-flat Major, Hob. XVI:46 (I)CHOPIN Nocturne in D-flat Major, op. 27, no. 2SCHUMANN Papillons, op. 2GERSHWIN–WILD I Got RhythmAbout Eddison Chen“Classical Music is a genre that unites us all in an increasingly polarized and divisive world. We should use the ease of listening to it today to make more music for our generation. I hope to someday be able to make music of my own.”Kansas City native Eddison Chen began taking home medals at national and international piano competitions when he was 8 years old, placing at the Chicago, Steinway, Kaufman Music Center (New York), and Music Teachers of North America, as well as the International Young Artist Competition in Washington, D.C. His grandmother was his original encouragement for starting lessons, and it wasn’t long before he was “writing random pieces of ‘music.’” He is currently studying with Steven Spooner of the Peabody Institute and 2013 Cliburn third-prize winner Sean Chen of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory. He applied for the Cliburn Junior hoping to gain valuable concert experience, to learn from great artists, and to meet new friends. He says the ultimate goal and motivation of all his piano studies is “to make music that is unlike most music of today,” and hopes to one day “compose a score from a story.” Outside of the piano, Eddison likes to play chess and study math; he’s involved in Math Club at his school and is a National MathCounts finalist. He also enjoys looking at maps and measuring distances between places in the world.
Jan Schulmeister – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-11 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutJAN SCHULMEISTERCzechia I 162023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USAHAYDN Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:52 (I)DEBUSSY “La cathédrale engloutie” from Préludes, Book IJANÁČEK Piano Sonata 1.X.1905 “From the Street” (I)LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 in E MajorAbout Jan Schulmeister“Music is a passion for me. It has the power to affect all movements of the mind, to enchant, to bewitch. Thanks to it, I can speak to people without words, but with the greatest urgency.”Jan Schulmeister belongs to the sixth generation of the Černý-Schulmeister family, well-known in Czechia for musical ability, and began studying piano with his mother, Martina Schulmeisterová, and Eva Zonová at the age of 5. When he was 7, he started participating in competitions, to remarkable results. He has taken home more than 30 first place or other extraordinary awards, both in his home country and at international competitions in Italy, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, Austria, North Macedonia, and the United States. In 2018, he became the youngest member of the Petrof Art Family, under which he has recorded two CDs. Jan currently continues his studies with Martina Schulmeisterová at the Conservatory of P. J. Vejvanovský Kroměříž, and also takes lessons with Alena Vlasáková at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, Czech Republic, and Ewa Kupiec of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien, Hannover, Germany. He has a passion for music education and finding innovative ways to reach younger audiences through concerts: “Together with appropriate explanations from me and from their teachers, we can make the ‘musical stories’ more accessible to them. I am always pleased with the subsequent reactions and interesting questions.” Outside of the practice room and stage, he enjoys reading about music history and astronomy, as well as recreational target shooting.
Yiran Zhou 周怡然 – Quarterfinal Round Recital – 2023 Cliburn Junior The Cliburn 2023-06-11 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. BassLearn more about Texas Ballet Theater: texasballettheater.org/aboutYIRAN ZHOU 周怡然China I 152023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round RecitalSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USABEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7 (I)LIEBERMANN Nocturne No. 4, op. 38STRAVINSKY Trois mouvements de PétrouchkaAbout Yiran Zhou“Classical music is an indispensable part of the world. For me, playing classical music is a wonderful thing. It means inheritance to our generation. We should learn from the handling of old artists and combine our own thoughts.”Yiran Zhou made her recital debut in her hometown of Shanghai in 2013; she was 5 years old. Just four years later, she won her first competition, the Frankfurt International Junior Piano Competition; she followed that with first-place finishes at the Rachmaninov and Melbourne Competitions, and third prize at the ClavierCologne NRW. For the past two years, she has studied with Xiao Luo at the Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Yiran calls her participation in the Cliburn Junior “a dream I wanted to realize since I learned the piano” and has found great inspiration in the festivals and masterclasses she’s attended: “every master’s different understanding of the same piece makes me feel the charm of music.” Outside of the piano, she enjoys watching movies and opera, and reading detective novels.
Quarterfinal Round Concert 1 – 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival The Cliburn 2023-06-10 | Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and FestivalQuarterfinal Round Concert 1 I 2:30 PMSaturday, June 10, 2023Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USASaturday, June 10, 2023Quarterfinal Round Concert 1 I 2:30 PM2:30 p.m. – Jan Schulmeister, 16, CzechiaHAYDN Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:52 (I)DEBUSSY “La cathédrale engloutie” from Préludes, Book IJANÁČEK Piano Sonata 1.X.1905 “From the Street” (I)LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 in E Major3:02 p.m. – Yiran Zhou 周怡然, 15, ChinaBEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7 (I)LIEBERMANN Nocturne No. 4, op. 38STRAVINSKY Trois mouvements de Pétrouchka20-MINUTE INTERMISSION3:52 p.m. – Eddison Chen, 13, United StatesHAYDN Sonata in A-flat Major, Hob. XVI:46 (I)CHOPIN Nocturne in D-flat Major, op. 27, no. 2SCHUMANN Papillons, op. 2GERSHWIN–WILD I Got Rhythm
