Longtime Cliburn patron Marcia Fuller
French says that she cannot recall a time when she and her
family were not involved with the Cliburn--her mother, Mrs. William
F. Fuller, served as the Foundation's chairman during the Fourth
Competition in 1973. Citing Mr. Cliburn as the inspiration for
their longstanding commitment, Mrs. Fuller French says, "Van is
absolutely an international icon. He helped to heal the world when
he won the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, easing the tensions
between the two countries through his music."
Esther Swallen Shores became a
member of the Cliburn Legacy Society by including the Van Cliburn
Foundation in her will, explaining that, "In life, if we have the
resources to support a cause, we owe it to everybody to support
something." After working as a research chemist at Armstrong World
Industries, raising her son, and teaching piano lessons for 45
years, Mrs. Shores says "Now, music is my life." Mrs. Shores is
"110 percent" behind the Cliburn and says that all of her friends
know that.
Steinway & Sons has been involved with the
Cliburn for nearly 50 years, close to one-third of the piano
makers'158-year existence. Ron Losby, President, Steinway
& Sons for the Americas says, "Steinway & Sons is
proud of our long and storied history with the Van Cliburn
Foundation. We are both committed to musical excellence, and our
partnership ensures that all who participate in the Cliburn have
the world's finest pianos available to them in their quest for
excellence."
