We have lost one of the truly great...

[iansinclair]

If you've missed it, Van Cliburn died this afternoon...

I well remember a concert of his I attended at my college in Minnesota, in the spring of 1964, with the then Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra under Stanislaus Skrowaceski.  Rachmaninoff #2.

Farewell...

[austinarg]

***. I am speechless. 

[j_menz]

Salve atque vale.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Salt!!!

[pianoplunker]

If you've missed it, Van Cliburn died this afternoon...

I well remember a concert of his I attended at my college in Minnesota, in the spring of 1964, with the then Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra under Stanislaus Skrowaceski.  Rachmaninoff #2.

Farewell...

At age 23, 1958 he whipped the Russian competition at a Moscow Tchaikovsky event and won a gold medal with an 8 minute standing ovation. Not bad for a kid from Texas . It was even more of a big deal since we were at cold war with Russia ( Soviet Union at that time ).  Just shows that Americans take music very seriously, as do Russians

[chopin2015]

Well....

[pianist1976]

Very sad news. He was one of the very greats, and he looked to be also a big person, not only in height.

We all love you, Van. We'll miss you 

[lateromantic]

At age 23, 1958 he whipped the Russian competition at a Moscow Tchaikovsky event and won a gold medal with an 8 minute standing ovation. Not bad for a kid from Texas . It was even more of a big deal since we were at cold war with Russia ( Soviet Union at that time ).  Just shows that Americans take music very seriously, as do Russians

I was just starting formal piano lessons as a kid at the time, and I remember that Van Cliburn's achievement created quite a stir at the time, particularly in the Midwest where we lived then.  I suppose, in retrospect, that that event must have made quite an impression on me, since I quickly decided that I wanted to become a concert pianist (or a composer).  I hadn't thought about Van Cliburn much recently, and the bad news in this morning's paper was quite unexpected.  For me, it's very sad.

[pts1]

A long article and tribute to Van Cliburn in his hometown newspaper.

https://www.star-telegram.com/2013/02/27/4647640/van-cliburn-dies.html

[lostinidlewonder]

I was thinking about him this week, prayers for his family. RIP

[hfmadopter]

Yes, I saw that news on the front page of my browser yesterday after work. Hat's off to a good man, great pianist is what I was thinking when I saw the news. Nuff said.

[lonelagranger]

I had the pleasure of being invited to his home in 1992.  I stayed with him for two weeks.  He was so very kind to me and a wonderful person to know.  He was humble, even though his house was filled with pictures of him with many celebrities.  There were Steinways in every room.  Even some uprights in the closets if you believe it or not.  His mother, Rildia Bee, was alive when I was there and she was so sweet.  She was 94 years old and still very active.  I hope he is with her now.  I didn't know whether to post something this personal or not, but I would just like to say that the Van Cliburn I knew would be touched by all your kind words.  He will live on in our hearts and in our music.

[chopin2015]

Is the competition still going to be around?

[pianist1976]

I had the pleasure of being invited to his home in 1992.  I stayed with him for two weeks.  He was so very kind to me and a wonderful person to know.  He was humble, even though his house was filled with pictures of him with many celebrities.  There were Steinways in every room.  Even some uprights in the closets if you believe it or not.  His mother, Rildia Bee, was alive when I was there and she was so sweet.  She was 94 years old and still very active.  I hope he is with her now.  I didn't know whether to post something this personal or not, but I would just like to say that the Van Cliburn I knew would be touched by all your kind words.  He will live on in our hearts and in our music.

Thanks for sharing! That was beautiful. You were lucky, I envy you!

[lonelagranger]

Yes, I was very lucky, indeed.  The competiton is still on.  They will be dedicating this years competition to Van.  Van put in to place the necessary resources so that the piano competition would continue long after he was gone.  I think this will be his greatest contribution to the musical world.  Many artists give musically.  He was able to do it with his music and his heart.  We should all be so giving and kind.

[lostinidlewonder]

I had the pleasure of being invited to his home in 1992.  I stayed with him for two weeks.  He was so very kind to me and a wonderful person to know.  He was humble, even though his house was filled with pictures of him with many celebrities.  There were Steinways in every room.  Even some uprights in the closets if you believe it or not.  His mother, Rildia Bee, was alive when I was there and she was so sweet.  She was 94 years old and still very active.  I hope he is with her now.  I didn't know whether to post something this personal or not, but I would just like to say that the Van Cliburn I knew would be touched by all your kind words.  He will live on in our hearts and in our music.

This is a lovely recount thanks for sharing such thoughts.






I am on their mailing list here is the most recent info posted:


Over 1,400 attended services last Sunday to pay respect to Van Cliburn.


Cliburn Competition Dedicated To
Van Cliburn

Van Cliburn, the Competition's inspiration and namesake, passed away on February 27, 2013. The Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will be dedicated to Mr. Cliburn, as a tribute to his devotion to young artists, and his belief in the transformative powers of music.

Carla Thompson, chairman of the board for the Cliburn, said: "The Competition that bears his name captures the essence of Van's passion for spreading the love of classical music. I join his many, many friends worldwide who will miss him dearly. During this time of mourning and reflection, it is with a renewed commitment to Van's ideals that we prepare for the upcoming Competition."

30 Competitors Announced
30 competitors have been selected to participate in the Fourteenth Cliburn Competition, May 24-June 9, 2013, at Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall. The pianists were chosen from a talented pool of 132 applicants who were invited to audition live in front of a five-member screening jury in Hong Kong, Hannover, Moscow, Milan, New York, and Fort Worth in January and February 2013.

The 2013 Cliburn Competition competitors hail from all over the world, representing 12 countries: the United States (8 ), Italy (6), Russia (4), China (3), Ukraine (2), Australia, Chile, France, Japan, South Korea, Poland, and Taiwan. They range in age from 19 to 30.

For a full list of competitors, individual bios, and repertoire
https://www.cliburn.org/cliburn-competition/current-competitors/


Given the sponsors for the competition I believe it will remain for a while longer:

Official Sponsors of the Cliburn are:
Amon G. Carter Foundation
Ann L. & Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust, Bank of America, Trustee
Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County
BNSF Railway Foundation
Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust
Edith Winther Grace Charitable Trust, J.P. Morgan, Trustee
ExxonMobil
Sid W. Richardson Foundation
The Burnett Foundation
XTO Energy Inc.

[chopin2015]

RIP MRS JAMES FROM BASTROP HIGH SCHOOL. WE LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH! THE WORLD IS COLD AND PATHETIC WITHOUT YOU. OUR HAPPINESS WILL NEVER BE AS STRONG WITH YOU GONE. YOUR SPIRIT WILL BE KEPT DEAR AND CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS. I AM SO SORRY THINGS HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. PLEASE FORGIVE US, WE PRAY.

Mrs. James was a piano teacher at Bastrop High school, Tx.  She was battling cancer since her thirties. She died in her 50s, very young. She was one of few people of such genuine kindness and free spirit.. It is truly sad without her because people are declining in good character as the years pass by, this is a huge loss to us. Since she left us, the world literally started falling apart. Piano class got taken away from the curriculum at school, the poor children will not have piano classes. I do not know what to do. There is no representation of public music education in this town now. This is sad. Think about how shameful this is!

Poor Mrs. JAMES. I MISS YOU PAINFULLY. I am very sorry.