FORT WORTH, Texas, October 18, 2022—After seven days of truly inspiring music making by 39 of the best amateur pianists from around the globe, Pamela Mia Paul, chairman of the Jury of the Eighth Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, for non-
The Richard Rodzinski First Prize was awarded to
Jon Lee, Software Engineer, 41, United States
$2,000 cash prize
Funded by a generous gift to the Cliburn Endowment by Scott Cutler
+ Custom boots, donated by Justin Brands
Second Prize
Michael Slavin, Neuro-Ophthalmologist (retired), 71, United States
$1,500 cash prize
Third Prize
Xavier Aymonod, Marketing Director – Public Transportation, 46, France
$1,000 cash prize
Special Awards
Jury Discretionary Award
Deirbhile Brennan, Accountant, 53, Ireland
$500 cash prize
Jury Discretionary Award
Sean Sutherland, Product Manager, 45, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines/Canada
$500 cash prize
Jury Discretionary Award
Noah DeGarmo, Physician, 44, United States
$500 cash prize
Audience Award
Masanori Murakami, Clinical Project Manager, 38, Japan
$500 cash prize
+ Cowboy hat, donated by Justin Brands
Second & Third Prizes and Special Awards Funded by The Morton H. Meyerson Family Foundation
in Memory of Bernice Gressman Meyerson 1918–2016
Download hi-res photos of the 2022 Amateur Competition at cliburn.org/amateurphotos
For competitor bios and repertoire: cliburn.org/2022-amateur-
Find more information on the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Miguel Harth-Bedoya HERE.
For complete information on Rounds and Repertoire: cliburn.org/2022-amateur-
For information of the Jury, chaired by Pamela Mia Paul: cliburn.org/2022-amateur-
ABOUT THE 2022 CLIBURN AMATEUR COMPETITION
Inaugurated in 1999, the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition was the first event of its kind in the United States. Hailed by the Boston Globe as “a celebration of music, and the people who have to make music no matter what,” the contest highlights the importance of music-making in everyday life and provides a forum for musicians age 35 and older who do not perform, teach, or compose piano music for their primary professional pursuit or financial benefit. The quadrennial competition brings together the best amateur pianists from around the world for seven days of performances, symposia, and social events.
The eighth edition of the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, for non-professional pianists age 35 and older, takes place October 12–18, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas, at Van Cliburn Recital Hall and Bass Performance Hall. This edition had previously been scheduled for May 2020.
The 2022 Cliburn Amateur competitors hail from all over the world, representing 16 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. These 39 pianists range in age from 38 to 72, with a median age of 51.
An additional 14 pianists have joined us as non-competing festival participants, bringing the total number of pianists to 53 and countries represented to 18 with the addition of China and Germany.
Learn more about the Amateur Competition here.
AMATEUR COMPETITION JURY
Click for biographies. Click for hi-res photos.
- Pamela Mia Paul, jury chair (United States)
- Peter Czornyj (United Kingdom)
- Alessandro Deljavan (Italy)
- Valery Kuleshov (United States)
- Carol Leone (United States)
- Alex McDonald (United States)
- Spencer Myer (United States)
ABOUT THE CLIBURN
The Cliburn advances 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 new artists. Established in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1962, the quadrennial Van Cliburn International Piano Competition remains the most visible expression of that mission and is, as always, committed to its original ideals of supporting and launching the careers of emerging artists, age 18–30. It shares the transformative powers of music with a wide global audience, through fully produced webcasts and by providing comprehensive career management and concert bookings to its winners. Rounding out its mission, the Cliburn also produces the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival (third edition, June 8–17, 2023) for exceptional 13- to 17-year-old pianists and the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition for outstanding non-professional pianists age 35 and older.
Over a four-year cycle, the Cliburn contributes to North Texas’ cultural landscape with over 170 classical music performances for 150,000 attendees through competitions, free community concerts, and its signature Cliburn Concerts series. It presents 1,000 Cliburn in the Classroom in-school, interactive music education programs for more than 200,000 area elementary students. During the same time period, it garners the world’s attention with more than 30 million views from 170 nations for competition webcasts; 300 concerts worldwide booked for competition winners; more than 10,000 news articles about the Cliburn and its winners; and regular national radio broadcasts to 245 public radio stations.
Sponsors of the 2022 Cliburn Amateur
BNSF
Central Market H-E-B
City Center Forth Worth
Fort Worth Tourism Public Improvement District
Frost
Sewell Automotive Companies
The Junior League of Fort Worth
The Shops at Clearfork
Official Piano of the Cliburn
Steinway & Sons – North Texas / Houston
