Cliburn news
12 semifinalists named in 2025 Cliburn Piano Competition in Fort Worth

American-Canadian pianist Carter Johnson made it to the semifinals.
The field of competitors in the Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competitionhas been narrowed to 12 semifinalists. They are:
- Yanjun Chen, China, 23
- Chaeyoung Park, South Korea, 27
- Yangrui Cai, China, 24
- Evren Ozel, United States, 26
- Jonas Aumiller, Germany, 26
- Angel Stanislav Wang, United States, 22
- Piotr Alexewicz, Poland, 25
- Vitaly Starikov, Israel/Russia, 30
- Carter Johnson, Canada/United States, 28
- Philipp Lynov, Russia, 26
- Aristo Sham, Hong Kong, China, 29
- Elia Cecino, Italy, 23
The announcement was made Sunday, May 25 at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU, after two days of quarterfinal-round competition that saw 17 pianists play 40-minute solo recitals of repertoire of their choosing. (One quarterfinalist, Xiaofu Ju, 25, of China withdrew due to medical reasons.) The competition began May 21 with 28 preliminary-round contestants.
Yanjun Chen is one of two women remaining in the competition.Photo by Ralph Lauer
The Cliburn will now move to Bass Hall in downtown Fort Worth, and requirements will ramp up. All 12 semifinalists will compete in two phases:
1. A 60-minute solo recital of self-selected repertoire.
2. A Mozart concerto (selected from a list of 10), performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto.
The semifinalists of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.Photo by Ralph Lauer
Performances will take place in nine concerts over five days, May 28-June 1. The semifinal round concert schedule will be as follows:
Wednesday, May 28
Semifinal Concert 1 – Recital
7:35 p.m. – Aristo Sham, Hong Kong China, 29
20-minute intermission
8:55 p.m. – Elia Cecino, Italy, 23
Thursday, May 29
Semifinal Concert 2 – Recital
2:35 p.m. – Angel Stanislav Wang, United States, 22
20-minute intermission
3:55 p.m. – Jonas Aumiller, Germany, 26
Semifinal Concert 3 – Concerto
7:30 p.m.
Philipp Lynov, Russia, 26
Chaeyoung Park, South Korea, 27
Intermission
Vitaly Starikov, Israel/Russia, 30
Carter Johnson, Canada/United States, 28
Friday, May 30
Semifinal Concert 4 – Recital
2:35 p.m. – Yanjun Chen, China, 23
20-minute intermission
3:55 p.m. – Evren Ozel, United States, 26
Semifinal Concert 5 – Concerto
7:30 p.m.
Aristo Sham, Hong Kong China, 29
Elia Cecino, Italy, 23
Intermission
Piotr Alexewicz, Poland, 25
Yangrui Cai, China, 24
Saturday, May 31
Semifinal Concert 6 – Recital
2:35 p.m. – Vitaly Starikov, Israel/Russia, 30
20-minute intermission
3:55 p.m. – Carter Johnson, Canada/United States, 28
Semifinal Concert 7 – Concerto
7:30 p.m.
Angel Stanislav Wang, United States, 22
Jonas Aumiller, Germany, 26
Intermission
Yanjun Chen, China, 23
Evren Ozel, United States, 26
Sunday, June 1
Semifinal Concert 8 – Recital
2:35 p.m. – Philipp Lynov, Russia, 26
20-minute intermission
3:55 p.m. – Chaeyoung Park, South Korea, 27
Semifinal Concert 9 – Recital
7:35 p.m. – Piotr Alexewicz, Poland, 25
20-minute intermission
8:55 p.m. – Yangrui Cai, China, 24
Six finalists will be named following the last performance on June 1. Finals will take place June 3-7 at Bass Hall.
Vitaly Starikov represents Israel and Russia.Photo by Ralph Lauer
Winners will be announced on June 7 at Bass Hall, followed by a celebration in Sundance Square. First prize includes a gold medal, $100,000 cash, international concert tour management, live album recording, performance attire from Neiman Marcus, and more.
For tickets to attend remaining rounds in person, visit the Cliburn website. The entire competition will be webcast live and available on-demand at cliburn.org, YouTube @TheCliburn, WFAA+, and more; visit the Cliburn site for more information.