Coronavirus pandemic forces Cliburn piano competition to wait until 2022
Officials with the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition announced Tuesday the renowned event that draws visitors from all over the world to Fort Worth has been postponed until 2022.
This is the first time in the competition’s almost 60-year history that it has been postponed.
Jacques Marquis, president and CEO of the Cliburn, said the board met last week and discussed options for holding the competition. The decision to postpone one of the pre-eminent music competitions in the world wasn’t made lightly, he said.
“We are very instrumental in launching careers. Our competitors win money, engagement and support, and that is a stepping stone to a young career,” Marquis said.
Marquis said there is still uncertainty in terms of holding competitions in 2021, which was when the Van Cliburn International Competition was to take place.
“This (the competition) is like athletes competing for the Olympics who have to be at their best level.”
Marquis added that the Cliburn is the first major music competition to announce that it is rescheduling its events to 2022.
Marquis said one of the key factors that led to the decision to postpone the competition was the interaction between the audience and the competitors during the performances.
Social-distancing requirements mean that approximately 500 people could be in the Bass Hall during the performances.
“It’s part of the charm of the competition. The best thing we could do was to postpone it,” Marquis said.
2022 Cliburn competition important dates
- October 14, 2021 - Application submission deadline.
- March 6–12, 2022 - Screening Auditions*.
- March 30, 2022 - Announcement of competitors to the public.
- June 2, 2022 - Competition begins.
- June 18, 2022 - Awards ceremony.
*For the first time, the Screening Auditions will be held in Fort Worth, Cliburn’s hometown.
Seventy two applicants will be chosen to perform a 25-minute recital in front of a live audience and the Screening Jury. From those, 30 will be selected to return to Fort Worth in May to compete.
For ticketholders
No action is necessary for patrons who have already purchased tickets for the 2021 Cliburn Competition. Their purchase will automatically transfer to the postponed dates.
Premium subscriptions remain on sale and are available. Other subscription packages and individual tickets will go on sale in 2021.
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 12:00 PM.