Maryland doctor wins first Cliburn YouTube Contest

The Baltimore Sun
by Tim Smith

May 30, 2008- A gastroenterologist from Maryland, Christopher Shih, has been named winner of the first YouTube Conest for amateur pianists, presented by the Van Cliburn Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas. His entry was an assured and colorful performance of Los requiebros from Goyescas by Granados. Dr. Shih, 35, will now gain automatic entry, application fee-free, to the next Cliburn International Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in 2011. About 2,400 people voted online, choosing among 41 amateurs (age 35 and older) who uploaded video performances of 5-10 minutes in length on YouTube. Dr. Shih, who earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins, is affiliated with the Maryland Digestive Disease Center, which has offices in Ellicott City, Laurel and Takoma Park.

Maryland Doctor Wins Cliburn YouTube Contest

KERA Art & Seek
by Olin Chism

May 30th, 2008- Christopher Shih, a 35-year-old gastroenterologist from Maryland, has won the first YouTube Contest for amateur pianists sponsored by the Van Cliburn Foundation. He will receive automatic entry into the sixth International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, which will be held in Fort Worth in the spring of 2011.

Maryland pianist named first winner of Van Cliburn YouTube contest

By Chris Shull

May 30, 2008- FORT WORTH — Classical music fans can go to YouTube.com, the popular video Web site, to see performances by Van Cliburn, Lang Lang, Arthur Rubinstein and other famous pianists.

Now Christopher Shih, a physician who lives in Maryland, has a pretty big presence on the site, too. Friday, he was named winner of the Van Cliburn Foundation’s first YouTube Piano Contest.