REGISTRATION & ORIENTATION: 4:00pm. in hotel conference room on the 5th floor. Pick up your Road Scholar arrival packet containing your name tag, up-to-date schedule, list of participants, maps, and other important information we will review.
The on-site coordinator will greet you with a warm Texas welcome, introduce everyone, and provide key staff contact names and phone numbers. We will review the up-to-date daily schedule, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. If you arrive late, pick up your packet at the hotel front desk.
This program date covers both the Semi-Final and the Final Round of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition. You will have opportunities to hear the 12 semi-finalists as they each play a solo recital, a newly commissioned work, and perform with the acclaimed Brentano String Quartet. You will also attend all the Final Round performances, in which the pianists will perform with the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of renowned conductor Leonard Slatkin. The experience will culminate with the Awards Ceremony, when the winners will be announced.
Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to weather and other local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible.Dinner: Enjoy a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant; vegetarian and low-salt meals available. As we walk to and from the restaurant, you will become acquainted with the Sundance Square area and see the positive effects of recent downtown revitalization efforts.Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: Peter Rosen’s enthralling documentary film “A Surprise in Texas” takes you backstage at the 13th annual Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009. Follow the grueling three-week competition schedule for insights into the lives of the 29 young contestants from 14 countries who came to Fort Worth to compete for one of the most prestigious prizes in the music world. Experience “Nobu fever” — after Nobuyuki Tsujii, the blind pianist who became an inspiration to all people who face hurdles or obstacles in life. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at the time contestants had in North Texas as they eat barbecue, model cowboy hats, and soak up the homey vibe of “Cowtown” in the company of their local hosts.Lodging: Embassy SuitesMeals Included: Dinner
You will begin your exploration into the 14th Van Cliburn Competition with a lecture/discussion with a university professor, who will attend the competition sessions with you and discuss the works heard, the competitors, composers, and different styles and types of piano performance throughout the program.
The Van Cliburn Foundation also sponsors a quadrennial Amateur Competition open to pianists age 35 and older who do not derive their principal source of income through piano performance or instruction. These talented musicians also compete in three elimination rounds, have opportunities to explore chamber music works with professional musicians, and participate in symposia and other events. After a short break, you will meet one of the finalists from the 2011 Amateur Competition, who will share stories and insights into the experience.Lunch: We will walk to lunch at a nearby restaurant in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt options available. A city-operated trolley service is available for those who prefer not to walk.Afternoon: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS: Watch and listen as the semi-finalists play in Bass Performance Hall. The Semi-final Round is in two phases. Phase I consists of a recital not to exceed 60 minutes in length of works chosen by the pianist, as well as a new work commissioned by the Van Cliburn Foundation from composer Christopher Theofanidis, whose music has been described as “lyrical, exotic soul searching” by the New York Times. In Phase II each pianist performs a quintet chosen from works by Brahms, Dvorák, Franck, and Schumann with the Brentano String Quartet, one of the world's foremost chamber ensembles.Dinner: We will walk to dinner in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available. Enjoy a variety of types of food during your stay in downtown Fort Worth.Evening: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS: Attend another Semi-final Round at Bass Performance Hall. Over the past four decades, the Cliburn Competition has involved hundreds of great musicians, music professionals, and dedicated individuals in its various activities. Its juries have included Jorge Bolet, Philippe Entremont, Rudolf Firkusny, Leon Fleisher, Malcolm Frager, Alberto Ginastera, Howard Hanson, Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer, Lili Kraus, Alicia de Larrocha, Dame Moura Lympany, Nikita Magaloff, Gerald Moore, John Ogdon, Cecile Ousset, Gyorgy Sandor, Harold Schonberg, Maxim Shostakovich, Soulima Stravinsky, Walter Susskind, Alexis Weissenberg, and Earl Wild.Lodging: Embassy SuitesMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a short break, a music professor will lead a lecture-discussion on piano performance and musical genres.Lunch: Lunch is on your own today. Choose from one of many nearby eateries and explore the downtown area.Afternoon: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS: Attend another Semi-final Round at Bass Performance Hall. By now, you will have become familiar with these extraordinary young talents and may be rooting for your favorite.Dinner: We will walk to dinner in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available.
As you have learned, Sundance Square is rich in Western history and lore. It is named for the Sundance Kid who, with Butch Cassidy, was a frequent visitor to the area then known as Hell's Half Acre.Evening: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS: Attend another Semi-final Round at Bass Performance Hall. The intensity of the competition will be playing out, literally, as you watch.Lodging: Embassy SuitesMeals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a short break, a representative from Bass Performance Hall will tell you about this hall, developed with private funds, that has become the crown jewel of Fort Worth — a city which boasts America’s third-largest cultural district. It is also an important symbol of one of the most successful downtown revitalization efforts in the country. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become cultural icons. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines, and ambience on level with the great halls of the world.Lunch: We will walk to lunch in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available.Afternoon: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS: Attend another Semi-final Round at Bass Performance Hall. The excitement and tension in the hall are palpable. Imagine how the contestants feel!Dinner: We will walk to dinner in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available. Sundance Square is at the heart of Fort Worth's vibrant downtown cultural district.Evening: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS: Attend another Semi-final Round at Bass Performance Hall. There are no "losers" in this competition. Each young artist has to deal with the challenges of incredibly demanding performance situations that will prepare them for whatever lies ahead.Lodging: Embassy SuitesMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a short break, a music professor leads a lecture-discussion on the pieces performed during the competition and will offer further insights into the study of piano.Lunch: We will walk to lunch in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available.Afternoon: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS: Attend another Semi-final Round at Bass Performance Hall. As we approach the conclusion of the Semi-Final Round, each of the 12 semifinalists will have performed a solo recital and a piano quintet with the world-renowned Brentano String Quartet as well as the newly-commissioned work by Christopher Theofanidis. Many of you will now know this music by heart!Dinner: We will walk to the Sundance Square area for our last dinner together; vegetarian and low-salt meals available.Evening: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION SEMI-FINALS: This is it — the last of the Semi-final Round. At the conclusion of the performances, you will be present for the announcement of the six young pianists who advance to the Final Round of competition. Share in the excitement, the tears of joy (or disappointment) and find out if your favorite young performers have been judged worthy as finalists.Lodging: Embassy SuitesMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Attend the Cliburn Foundation symposium where you'll hear entertaining stories about cross-cultural experiences from members of the domestic and international press corps at the media symposium sponsored by the Cliburn foundation. Consider the perspectives of competitors from other parts of the world as they compete in Fort Worth while living in the private homes of volunteers. Discover how their stories are covered by media outlets around the world.Lunch: We will walk to lunch at a nearby restaurant in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt options available.Afternoon: PRESENTATION: Begin the afternoon with a lecture/discussion with university professor about this year's Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, piano performance, and repertoire. The music professor will also attend competition sessions with you to discuss the works heard, the competitors, composers, and different styles and types of piano performance.
Following the lecture enjoy freetime before dinner.Dinner: We will walk to dinner in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available. Enjoy a variety of types of food during your stay in downtown Fort Worth.Evening: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION FINALS: Watch and listen as the finalists play in the Bass Performance Hall. The Final Round is in two phases. During Phase I, each finalist performs a chamber concerto by Beethoven or Mozart, chosen by the pianist. In Phase II, each young contestant performs a concerto scored for full orchestra, accompanied by the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra. Marvel at the imaginative work of conductor Leonard Slatkin, winner of the National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest honor for a performing artist.Lodging: Embassy SuitesMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following a short break, we will have a lecture/discussion with university professor on works performed during the competition and offer insights into the demands of competition performance on the young pianists.Dinner: Dinner in the Sundance Square area. Enjoy a variety of types of food during your stay in downtown Fort Worth. Vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available.Evening: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION FINALS: Attend another Final Round performance at Bass Performance Hall. By now, you will have become familiar with these extraordinary young talents and may be rooting for your favorite.Lodging: Embassy SuitesMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Over the past four decades, the Cliburn Competition has involved hundreds of great musicians, music professionals, and dedicated individuals in its various activities. Maestro John Giordano will serve as chairman of the jury for the eleventh competition since he assumed the post in 1973.Lunch: We will walk to lunch in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available.Afternoon: PRESENTATION: The Van Cliburn Foundation advances awareness of classical piano music throughout the world. Its international competitions, education programs, and concert series embody an enduring commitment to artistic excellence and the discovery of young artists.
The Foundation conducts the quadrennial Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; provides three years of career management for competition finalists; organizes the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs™; produces an annual concert series; and offers music education and outreach programs in cooperation with North Texas schools. Explore the foundation's programs with a staff member, who will share how Mr. Cliburn's vision to expand appreciation for classical music is accomplished through education and outreach efforts.
After a short break, you will compare notes with the piano professor about the competition. See if others in the group are rooting for your favorite contestant!Dinner: We will walk to dinner in the Sundance Square area; vegetarian and low-salt meals will be available. Sundance Square is at the heart of Fort Worth's vibrant downtown cultural district.Evening: VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION FINALS: Attend another Final Round performance at Bass Performance Hall. Feel the tension mount as contestants near the end of the grueling three-week competition and move closer to the recognition and prizes that come with victory!Lodging: Embassy SuitesMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Built entirely with private funds, Bass Performance Hall is permanent home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn Concerts. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater and two 48-foot tall limestone angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become pre-eminent cultural icons of the entire Dallas / Fort Worth metropolitan area. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambiance on level with the great halls of the world.
Program concludes no later than 11:00AM.Meals Included: Breakfast