BNSF Railway Foundation Check Presentation for the 50th Anniversary Documentary

The Cliburn was honored to receive $100,000 in support of the 50th Anniversary Documentary from BNSF Railway Foundation. David Stropes, Vice President, Corporate Audit Services, and Cliburn Board Member, personally delivered the check to Alann Sampson on April 5, 2012. This contribution is to support the Cliburn's production of a 60-minute documentary at the request of PBS. The retrospective film will cover the events and winners of the quadrennial competitions from 1962 through 2009.

As seen through the eyes and memories of the 15 gold medalists, The Cliburn: 50 Years of Gold follows the half-century long history of one of the world's most prestigious music competitions, set against the backdrop of the beautiful music.

Producer/Director Peter Rosen met the Cliburn winners wherever they were performing around the world. Their stories are woven into the legend of Van Cliburn, the competition's inspiration, who--in his own words--recalls his victory in Moscow at the first Tchaikovsky Competition at the height of the Cold War in 1958: "I had only a few months to prepare for the Tchaikovsky competition. But, in a way, my whole life had been leading up to it"

The Cliburn: 50 Years of Gold was broadcast nationwide on PBS on Friday, September 28, 2012 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT with plans for it to be syndicated internationally.