The gala celebration of the Cliburn's 50th Anniversary began
with high energy and a vision realized! On Saturday, March 3, 2012,
Gold Medalists Ralph Votapek (1962), Cristina Ortiz (1969),
Vladimir Viardo (1973), André-Michel Schub (1981), José Feghali
(1985), and Simone Pedroni (1993), returned to Fort Worth for the
Foundation's black-tie Gala at the Fort Worth Convention Center ~
Water Gardens. Everyone was so excited to see them and Van Cliburn
honored each along with Carla Kemp Thompson and Alann Bedford
Sampson as they were presented engraved silver mint julep cups
celebrating the moment. Liu Shih Kun, who won second place behind
Van at the first Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and had not seen
Van in 50 years, flew in from China just for the Gala. He was one
of the 840 guests who enjoyed this special evening. There were
special toasts, a seated dinner, champagne sabering, and a parade
of Baked Alaska. Fifteen year-old Lewis Warren wowed the crowd with
his performance at center stage on a grand piano. Dancing kicked
off to the Starlight Experience from New York as dancers enjoyed
themselves until the wee hours with wonderful music and new
memories!
