Ukrainian Pianist Wins the Cliburn Gold

Vadym Kholodenko of Ukraine performs a concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra during finals in the 14th Van Cliburn international piano competition in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday June 9, 2013. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Ron T. Ennis)

The votes have been tabulated, the results are in and it’s now official. The first place winner of the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is 26-year old Vadym Kholodenko, from Ukraine, who received the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Gold Medal and Van Cliburn Winner's Cup. Vadym will also receive a $50,000 cash prize, a live recording of his competition performances, a studio recording and performance attire, along with three years of professional concert management and performance venues estimated at over one million dollars. 20-year old Beatrice Rana, from Italy came in second place, winning a Silver Medal, a cash prize of $20,000, a live recording of her competition performances and three years of concert management.  24-year old Sean Chen, the winner of the Crystal Award, from the United States, placed third. Sean will also receive $20,000, a live recording of his competition performances and three years of concert management. The three remaining finalists were 24-year old Nikita Mndoyants, from Russia; 22-year old Fei-Fei Dong, from China; and 19-year old Tomoki Sakata, the youngest competitor, from Japan. Each of these finalists will receive a $10,000 cash prize along with three years of concert management as well.

The Cliburn International Piano competition takes place in Fort Worth, Texas every four years and it remains among the top venues in the world for accomplished young pianists to come together, compete and showcase their amazing skills. This year’s competition started on May 24th with 30 international piano competitors, representing 13 nations, and ended this evening on June 9th. The Cliburn International Piano Competition was founded in 1962, through the combined efforts of a group of Fort Worth music teachers and residents who wanted to honor Van Cliburn after he had won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958, that was held in Moscow, Russia. Unfortunately, Van Cliburn died this past February at the age of 78 in his Fort Worth home from complications associated with advanced bone cancer. Mr. Cliburn was never a judge in the piano competition that bears his prestigious name; however he was always on hand to present prizes to all of the piano competition winners.

Photo credit: http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/10/189511177/ukrainian-wins-top-prize-at-van-cliburn-piano-competition