How the Cliburn has elevated Fort Worth’s standing on the global music landscape

Pianist Tamás Ungár, 79, remembers the first time he went to a Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the spring of 1981. 

Ungár had no idea what the Cliburn was, but was invited by a close friend to attend the event. He was instantly captivated by the competition, he recalled. 

“It was just a phenomenal experience to see some of these great pianists,” Ungár said. 

Over four decades later, Ungár continues to be entranced by the competition. He’s seen the Cliburn elevate Fort Worth — Ungár’s home base since 1978 — into the international spotlight and solidified its place as a major player through its career management for medalists and showcase of classical music. 

“It put Fort Worth on the landscape of music,” Ungár, a professor of piano at Texas Christian University, said. 

Outside view of Fort Worth is ‘pretty impressive’

The Cliburn, established in Fort Worth in 1962, is held every four years and considered one of the most prestigious classical music competitions in the world. The competition was founded to celebrate Fort Worth musical legend Van Cliburn’s victory at the 1958 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. 

The Cliburn found quick success because it was built on solid ground by volunteers to raise funds and enlist the support of politicians, musicians and business leaders, said Jacques Marquis, CEO and president of the Cliburn. 

“It’s a bit easier to build another story or level in your house if you have a good foundation, and the Cliburn was very solid,” he said. 

The Cliburn’s reputation has solidified over its 63-year history with the recent 2022 competition’s massive online viewership, reaching over 60 million views across 177 countries making it a juggernaut in the world of musical competitions. This year’s event is expected to boost Fort Worth’s economy by up to $20 million. 

The competition’s emphasis on attracting top pianists from around the world through its career management, including concert bookings, artistic support and publicity, has made it a top choice for international musicians. This year’s competition features pianists from 17 countries. 

“There are a few competitions that change the paths of winners completely and really launch careers and it’s us and the Chopin,” Marquis said, referring to the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Poland. 

In his decades of teaching, Ungár has seen several piano students pursue their musical careers with aspirations of simply participating in the Cliburn.

“Everybody knows that every young person’s dream is to participate in the Cliburn with the hope of getting in. It’s ruthless,” he said. “Really you get chosen or you’re not chosen and that’s it.” 

The Cliburn has also grown the city’s musical reach through its initiatives beyond the competition, including amateur competitions, interactive concert experiences for elementary audiences and community concerts. The main challenge remains finding creative ways to foster a broader appreciation for classical music, Marquis said. 

“Classical music is changing, so how you share the music and balance your audience is very important,” he said. “Yes, we want to have 50-year-olds, but we also want young kids to be exposed to it.” 

In Marquis’ eyes, the exposure has been successful. Whenever he travels to other cities and countries, the mention of Fort Worth and the Cliburn almost instantly comes with positive responses. 

“The view of Fort Worth is pretty impressive from the outside,” he said. 

David Moreno is the arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at [email protected] or @davidmreports.

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