The Cliburn Announces 20-Year Partnership With SMU and Dallas Symphony Orchestra for International Competition for Young Pianists

The Cliburn is pleased to announce a 20-year partnership with Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, covering the next five editions of the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists (formerly known as the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival). The next edition of the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists takes place June 9–19, 2027, in Dallas, TX. The competition will include an in-residence fellowship program on the campus of SMU, consisting of masterclasses, workshops, artist conversations, performance opportunities, and other scheduled activities.

“As the Cliburn continues to encourage the futures of the amazing young artists who participate in the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists, we must also invest in the future of the communities that make events like this possible.” said Jacques Marquis, president and CEO of the Cliburn. “By cementing the partnership with SMU and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra—true pillars of the Dallas artistic community—for the next 20 years, we are telling the people of Dallas that the Cliburn is here, and that we are committed to the development of the next generation of great artists.”

In addition, the Cliburn announces renewed partnerships for the next 20 years with the Nasher Sculpture Center and NorthPark Center, as well as KERA and WRR.

Applications are now open for the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists. Talented pianists aged 13 to 17 are encouraged to apply by November 17, 2026. The Cliburn will invite 38 artists to participate as Piano Fellows; from this group, 24 pianists will be selected to compete for prizes. All applicants must have been born on or after June 7, 2010, and before June 19, 2014. Complete details and the application can be found at cliburn.org/competitions/2027-young-pianists.

The competition’s Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds, as well as fellowship program events, will be hosted on the campus of SMU, where participants will also reside throughout their time in Dallas. For the Final Round, six young pianists will perform one concerto movement with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, conducted by Maurice Cohn, music director of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and former assistant conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Chinese pianist Sa Chen (2005 Cliburn bronze medalist) will serve as jury chair for the 2027 competition. A prizewinner at the International Chopin, Leeds, and Cliburn competitions, Ms. Chen has fostered an international touring career, recorded 11 albums, and served on several high-profile competition juries including the Chopin, Leeds, and Busoni.

The remainder of the jury includes:
Kenny Broberg, USA (2017 Cliburn silver medalist) Lucille Chung, Canada/USA
Alessandro Deljavan, Italy Marie-Josèphe Jude, France
Alexander Korsantia, Georgia/USA Alessandro Mazzamuto, Italy Noriko Ogawa, Japan
Steven Osborne, Scotland

About the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists
The Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists was established in 2015 as another means for the Cliburn to use its standing and expertise to encourage tomorrow’s great artists, to provide a valuable forum for them to express themselves, and to give them an entrance to the next step of their journeys. Key ingredients are top international jurors, the media and broadcast, Final Round performances with orchestra, and the fellowship experience, which included performance experience and artistic workshops. The most recent edition (2023) drew 247 applications from 44 countries; live and on demand webcast views topped 2,000,000 with viewers in more than 170 countries.