Get ready for geopolitical fireworks to accompany the 2022 Cliburn competition in Fort Worth this June. Of the 30 competitors chosen for the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, six are coming from Russia, the largest pool from any one country, the organization revealed March 30. Two are from Belarus, and one is from Ukraine.
The announcement comes at a time when cultural institutions around the world are banning participants from Russia and Belarus to stand against Vladimir Putin’s Russian-led invasion of Ukraine. But the Cliburn is choosing to stand with artists — and with the power of art to transcend politics — says CEO Jacques Marquis.
In a statement released with the list of competitors, Marquis says:
The 30 competitors we announce today were selected solely on their artistry. We know that their extraordinary ability to communicate through music will touch the world when they take the Cliburn stage this June.
The Cliburn must and will remain true to its mission as an artist-supporting cultural institution, and we are dedicated to the power of this artform to transcend boundaries. We make no distinction between non-political artists based on their nationality, gender, or ethnicity. We stand firmly with the music community around the globe in its commitment to these ideals.
The hearts of the people of the Cliburn are with the valiant Ukrainians as they courageously defend their homeland from the Russian…
