Pianist Van Cliburn shook the musical world from behind the former “Iron Curtain” and became a national hero by winning the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in 1958.  A group of music educators and volunteers from his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas founded the Cliburn International Piano Competition with the first presented in 1962.  The Cliburn Foundation helps launch the careers of these exceptionally talented pianists by providing management of worldwide performance opportunities for Cliburn prizewinners for three years after the competition.  Learn more about the Cliburn’s past winners.

The Thirteenth Cliburn Competition began on May 22 and runs through June 7, 2009 at Bass Hall in Fort Worth, Texas.  Join web host Jade Simmons for FREE live webcasts of the competition at Cliburn TV.  The archived recitals are available for retrieval the next day so you won’t have to miss a single note.  Also featured are precompetition glimpses of the competitors and back stage interviews.

The Imperial Symphony Orchestra has presented several past Cliburn prizewinners over the past few years including Yakov Kasman and Davide Cabassi.  The Orchestra is slated to present one of this year’s prizewinners on the season opening Masterworks “Black Tie and Brahms” on October 6, 2009.

Season tickets for the best seats to hear the ISO’s five Tuesday evening Masterworks Concerts on sale now are 30% off single ticket prices.  Single tickets go on sale in September.  Learn more on the ISO website, by email to info@imperialsymphony.org or by phone (863) 688-3743, x4.