Cliburn Competition

Application Rules

Rules and Procedures for Application

  1. The Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities. First-prize winners of previous Cliburn Competitions are not eligible to compete. Applicants must have been born after June 9, 1982, and before May 24, 1995.
  2. The Application Form can be submitted online or by post. It must be completed, signed, and sent with all the necessary enclosures to the Van Cliburn Foundation, postmarked no later than October 15, 2012, or submitted online by 11:59 p.m. GMT-6 that day. The Application Form and all enclosures must be completed in English.
  3. The following enclosures must accompany each Application Form. You may send physical copies by post or scanned copies through the online application form.
    1. A photocopy of the applicant's birth certificate or equivalent proof of age.
    2. A current one-page résumé.
    3. Three different color photographs in digital format with a resolution of 300 dpi, including one head-shot, suitable for publicity purposes. These can be submitted in the online application or mailed on CD to the Cliburn.
    4. Photocopies of programs from at least five recitals and five concerto performances from the past five seasons, translated into English.
    5. Photocopies of several press reviews from the past five seasons, translated into English.
    6. Photocopies of any awards from other competitions, translated into English.
  4. All applicants must submit a nonrefundable application fee of $100 US by certified check, money order, Western Union, or bank draft made payable to the Van Cliburn Foundation. The fee may also be electronically transferred to the Cliburn account upon request. Payment may also be made by credit card or PayPal if using the online application to apply.
  5. Applicants must supply the following recommendations:
    1. A recommendation letter from a recent teacher of the applicant or, if the applicant is still a student, from the current teacher. The letter must be specifically written to recommend the applicant to the Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
    2. A recommendation letter from a musician or musicians of acknowledged international standing, specifically written to recommend the applicant to the Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
      Those writing recommendation letters are to send them directly to the Cliburn. They may send printed letters by post or fax, or scanned letters by email to:
      Jacques Marquis, President and CEO
      The Cliburn
      2525 Ridgmar Boulevard, Suite 307
      Fort Worth, Texas 76116 USA
      Telephone: 817.738.6536
      Fax: 817.738.6534
      Email: competition2013@cliburn.org
    3. Applicants must also supply the names and contact information of two additional musicians or teachers for reference purposes on the Application Form.
  6. Applicants should retain copies of all material sent with their applications. The Van Cliburn Foundation will accept no responsibility for lost documents.
  7. An acknowledgment will be sent to each applicant upon receipt of the completed Application Form and enclosures. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  8. All applications will be reviewed by the Competition Artistic Committee and treated as confidential. The Committee reserves the right to request additional information from or about an applicant.
  9. All applicants will be notified by December 1, 2012, whether or not they have been accepted to perform in a screening audition. The Screening Auditions will be held in designated cities in Asia, Europe, and the United States during January and February 2013. Each applicant accepted for a screening audition is required to give a 40-minute recital before a live audience and the screening jury. Video recordings of performances by those applicants unable to attend the live Screening Auditions will be accepted only under special circumstances such as illness during the scheduled auditions or prohibitive travel costs.
  10. A travel allowance will be provided to those applicants accepted for screening auditions for travel to and from the audition sites closest to their current residence under the following conditions:
    1. Surface public transportation (train, bus, or car) must exceed four hours from place of residence to audition site.
    2. Cost of transportation (economy or second class) must exceed $150 US for the round trip.
    3. Allowance does not cover transportation to or from airport, train station, etc. Allowance does not cover accommodations or meal expenses.

    If the above conditions are met, the Cliburn will reimburse the applicant the excess of expense for transportation over $150 US but not to exceed a total reimbursement of $350 US. The request and submission of a copy of the ticket must be received by the Cliburn by March 31, 2013, in order for the applicant to collect reimbursement. Payments of travel allowance will be made between March 15, 2013, and April 15, 2013.

  11. All applicants will be notified whether or not they have been accepted for the competition no later than March 5, 2013. The approximately 30 selected pianists will be announced to the public immediately thereafter.