March 16, 2008 - FORT WORTH, Texas – The Van Cliburn Foundation will host its first Cliburn YouTube Contest this spring.
To enter, eligible amateur pianists should submit a five- to 10-minute performance video to be judged by online viewers. Winner of the Cliburn YouTube Contest will be entered in the next International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, to be held in summer 2011. The application fee will be waived.
Deadline to submit a video is April 30. The contest is open to any classical pianist who does not derive a significant portion of his or her income from performance, composition and/or piano instruction, and is at least 35 years old. The winner must meet all eligibility requirements.
Videos should be posted in the group contest for amateur classical pianists found on the foundation’s YouTube Channel. Sevan Melikyan, director of marketing for the foundation, said the contest was created “to inspire and motivate amateur pianists to practice and perfect their skills continually, until the main competition takes place in 2011.”
Beginning May 1, voters can go online and select the contestant of their choice. Voters will be required to register through the Cliburn Web site and will be sent a ballot via e-mail. Voting closes May 15.
For information, including rules and regulations and video clips from the amateur competition, visit www.cliburn.org.
Since 1999, the Van Cliburn Foundation has held its International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in the 1,200-seat Ed Landreth Hall on the campus of Texas Christian University Fort Worth.
Seventy-five pianists participate in the quadrennial three-round competition. Each pianist plays 12 minutes in the first round, 20 in the second, and 30 in the final round.
