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.

YouTube will be stage for a Cliburn contest

[carried story]

March 20–FORT WORTH — Move over, Numa Numa guy. Take a break, Filipino inmates busting out Thriller moves. YouTube isn’t just for pop-culture wackiness anymore.

The Van Cliburn Foundation has launched the Cliburn YouTube Contest, part of a search for entrants for its next International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, to be held in 2011. Amateur pianists over age 35 may upload a video of themselves playing a classical composition — jazz, pop or other styles are disqualifiers — to www.youtube.com/vancliburnfoundation by April 30. On May 1, viewers can look at the videos and vote for their favorite pianist. The winner, whose name will be announced May 30, will be invited to compete in the 2011 competition in Fort Worth.

Help pick artists in Cliburn amateur competition

by Todd Camp
Star-Telegram staff writer

May 13, 2008- YouTube’s not just for silly videos of people making Diet Pepsi geysers with packages of Mentos. There’s potential artists in them thar mpegs, and you can help single them out.

The Van Cliburn Foundation’s Cliburn YouTube Contest asked eligible amateur pianists to submit 5- to 10-minute performance videos to be judged by online viewers.

The last day to vote is Thursday, so surf on over to www.cliburn.org, watch the 42 hopefuls and pick your favorites. The winner will be entered in the next International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in the summer of 2011, and his or her application fee will be waived.