The Cliburn: 50 Years of Gold

Watch the program:

Obituary: Van Cliburn, 1934-2013 (from KERA News)

Every four years, a group of the finest young pianists take the stage at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. In the midst of the drama, the beauty, the nerves and the excitement, they know one thing is true — what happens there can change their lives. They strive to feel the joy of victory and achieve their utmost goal: to become a performer on the world stage.

As seen through the eyes and memories of 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 beautiful music. The most important moment in the life of a young pianist is when he or she walks out onto the stage of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Gut-wrenching drama, strung-out nerves and the joy of victory are the elements that make up this extraordinary film retrospective.

More information about Van Cliburn and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition can be found at www.cliburn.org.

The Cliburn: 50 Years of Gold was produced by Peter Rosen Productions, Inc. and presented by KERA TV in North Texas. The project is funded by The Burnett Foundation, the BNSF Railway Foundation, the Sid W. Richardson Foundation and The Ryan Foundation.