The Cliburn Announces New Cliburn International Competition for Conductors

Hosted in partnership with the Houston Symphony and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, the inaugural competition will take place in June 2028 in Houston, Texas with Marin Alsop as Jury Chair 

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Houston, TX - January 22, 2026

The Cliburn announces the launch of a major new program: the Cliburn International Competition for Conductors, open to 21- to 35-year-old conductors. Taking place in June 2028 in Houston, Texas, in partnership with the Houston Symphony and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, it will be the first major international conducting competition in North America. Marin Alsop, one of the foremost artists of our time and conductor of the 2022 and 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competitions, will serve as Jury Chair, and the Houston Symphony will perform with all competitors.

An esteemed Artistic Advisory Committee will consult on rounds, repertoire, and ways to support young conductors, and includes Alsop, Miguel Harth-Bedoya (Distinguished Resident Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting at the Shepherd School), Kent Nagano, Robert Spano, Juraj Valčuha (Music Director of the Houston Symphony), and Xian Zhang.

“Conductors are among the most pivotal figures in classical music and need opportunities to showcase their artistry. For more than 60 years, the Cliburn has focused on discovering exceptional young artists, launching their careers, and bringing classical music to the widest international audience possible. We are uniquely positioned to leverage our experience and reach to launch the first major conducting competition in North America,” said Jacques Marquis, President and CEO of the Cliburn. “Van Cliburn made his orchestra debut with the Houston Symphony at age 12 and later went on to conduct some of the world’s top orchestras himself, so this is a natural continuation of the Cliburn’s mission. We are delighted to come full circle and share his vision of excellence and love of music with the great city of Houston. The future of the arts and the ability to do great things rests on collaborations, and the Cliburn is thrilled to be working alongside the Houston Symphony and its fantastic musicians, and to partner with the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University to host. Inspired by Van’s legacy and Marin Alsop’s vision, we look forward to welcoming the world’s top young conductors to Texas in 2028.”

Applications for the Cliburn International Competition for Conductors, as well as full schedule, rules, rounds, and requirements, will be available in October 2026 and due in November 2027. A screening jury will review online applications and video submissions, selecting up to 25 applicants for a live audition in early 2028 at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. 12 competitors will then be invited to compete in June 2028. The competition itself will take place at the Shepherd School of Music and Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, home of the Houston Symphony. All Competition Rounds will be open to the public; tickets will go on sale in early 2028.

One grand prize winner will receive a cash award of $50,000, concert opportunities, and bolstered publicity efforts. Finalists will each receive cash awards of $20,000.

The Cliburn builds on its already well-established digital presence—with video views topping 100 million in over 180 countries over the past four years—and will livestream all rounds to a passionate international audience.

“Conducting the Finals of the past two Van Cliburn International Piano Competitions and watching the medalists’ careers blossom has been deeply rewarding. Creating access and new opportunities for the next generations of gifted musicians is one of the most meaningful aspects of my work,” said Marin Alsop. “When I was invited to serve as Jury Chair for a new conducting competition modeled on the Cliburn’s piano competition, it felt like a natural next step in my partnership with this wonderful organization and one that strongly aligns with my mission to remove barriers and expand opportunities for emerging conductors.”

“It is an honor for the Houston Symphony to collaborate on bringing the new Cliburn International Competition for Conductors to Houston,” said Gary Ginstling, Houston Symphony Executive Director and CEO and holder of the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair. “Houston is a global hub with a thriving international community and is the perfect place for the Cliburn to launch this new initiative. The Houston Symphony’s artistry and flexibility make us the ideal symphony orchestra to help identify a new generation of conducting talent.”

 “The Shepherd School is thrilled to join our partners in launching this major new conducting competition,” said Matthew Loden, the Lynette S. Autrey Dean of Music at the Shepherd School of Music. “From its earliest days, the Shepherd School has been deeply committed to training young conductors, who study with distinguished faculty such as the late Larry Rachleff and now Miguel Harth-Bedoya. We are eager to host conducting talent from around the world in 2028, and we’re proud to be part of launching this next generation of musical leadership.”

Through this new competition, the Cliburn, the Houston Symphony, the Shepherd School of Music, and Alsop demonstrate dedication to discovering the best young artists and to sharing music with the largest global audience possible. Building on the legacy of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition—described by The Guardian as “the instrument’s Olympics”— the Cliburn International Competition for Conductors will be a catalyst for launching significant worldwide careers for its winners.

The Cliburn’s four-year cycle now evolves to:

 YEAR ONE–Non-Competition Year 
(focus on winners’ career management and other programs)
YEAR TWO–Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition
(for pianists age 13-17; June 2027)
YEAR THREE–Cliburn International Competition for Conductors
(for conductors age 21-35, June 2028)
YEAR FOUR–Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
(for pianists age 18-30, May/June 2029)

The Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, inaugurated in 1999 to highlight the importance of music-making in everyday life, will be retired. The first event of its kind in the United States, the program has largely accomplished its mission of growing a thriving community of non-professional pianists.

Cliburn International Competition for Conductors Key Dates:

October 2026: Applications open for the Cliburn International Competition for Conductors; rules, rounds, and requirements are announced

November 2027: Applications due

 January 2028: Tickets on sale

Winter 2028: Live screening round, hosted by the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, for up to 25 conductors

April 2028: 12 competitors announced

June 2028: Cliburn International Competition for Conductors takes place, with 12 invited competitors conducting the Houston Symphony

About the Cliburn

The Cliburn advances classical piano music throughout the world. Its international competitions, education programs, and concert series embody an enduring commitment to artistic excellence and the discovery of new artists. The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (eighteenth edition, May/June 2029) is widely considered “the instrument’s Olympics” (The Guardian, June 2025) and “one of the most prestigious contests in classical music” (The New York Times, June 2022). From its origins in 1962 through today, it has remained dedicated to sharing music with the largest international audience possible and to launching the careers of its winners. Known for excellence and innovation in the digital space, the Cliburn is one of the most-watched events in classical music: video views over the past four years have topped 100 million across 200 countries.

The Cliburn is a proven catalyst to significant worldwide touring careers for its winners, with a laureate roster that—in the past 25 years alone—includes Olga Kern, Joyce Yang, Haochen Zhang, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Yeol Eum Son, Vadym Kholodenko, Beatrice Rana, Yekwon Sunwoo, and Yunchan Lim. And to that list, it now adds its 2025 class: Aristo Sham (gold), Vitaly Starikov (silver), and Evren Ozel (bronze). This track record of success brings an elite group of 18- to 30-year-old pianists to Fort Worth every four years to compete for the coveted medals. The total Cliburn prize package is worth an estimated $2 million and includes comprehensive and personalized career management, concert bookings, artistic support, and bolstered publicity efforts.

Over a four-year cycle, the Cliburn contributes to North Texas’ cultural landscape with over 170 classical music performances for 150,000 attendees through competitions, free community concerts, and its signature Cliburn Concerts series. It presents 1,000 Cliburn in the Classroom in-school, interactive music education programs for more than 200,000 area elementary students. 

About the Houston Symphony

Under the leadership of Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the Grammy Award-winning Houston Symphony continues to inspire and engage diverse audiences in Houston and beyond with exceptional musical performances and enduring community impact. The Symphony held its inaugural performance at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Now in its second century as one of America’s premier orchestras, the Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas and remains a cultural cornerstone of the region.

With an annual operating budget of $42 million, the Symphony presents over 150 concerts each year, making it one of the largest performing arts organizations in Texas. Its reach extends far beyond the concert hall, delivering more than 600 performances annually at schools, community centers, hospitals, and other venues, engaging over 160,000 people throughout Greater Houston.

 The Symphony's innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic—completing its 2020-21 Season with in-person audiences and weekly livestreams—earned national recognition and the ASCAP Foundation’s Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Broadcast/Media Award. Its commitment to innovation continues, with its 2024-25 Season reaching audiences in over 45 countries and all 50 states via livestreaming, making it one of the few American orchestras to sustain such global digital engagement.

Renowned for its artistry, the Symphony has a distinguished recording legacy under prestigious labels, including Koch International Classics, Naxos, RCA Red Seal, and Pentatone. Highlights include a Grammy and ECHO Klassik Award-winning live recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck and recent releases such as Jimmy López Bellido’s Aurora and Ad Astra (2022) and Jennifer Higdon’s Duo Duel (2023).

The Symphony’s educational impact is equally remarkable, with its Harry and Cora Sue Mach Student Concert Series reaching over 50,000 students annually. Its In Harmony after-school program and partnerships with institutions like the Houston Methodist Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Texas Children’s Hospital further demonstrate the Symphony’s commitment to fostering community connections and accessibility to the arts.

With a vision centered on artistic excellence, community engagement, and accessibility, the Houston Symphony remains a cultural leader in Houston and a global ambassador for the transformative power of music.

About the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University

Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music cultivates the mastery of musical performance, combining a conservatory experience with the educational opportunities of a leading research university. Guided by the belief that talent manifests along unique paths, the Shepherd School limits its student body to 285 uniquely gifted young musicians.

Shepherd gives each music major access to world class teachers—all accomplished artists in their own right—dedicated to cultivating talent and professional success. Its faculty is known for their individualized instruction and for equipping musicians with the skills and experience necessary to develop their own esteemed careers. 

Shepherd alumni include Pulitzer Prize and Grammy winners. They have debuted at Carnegie Hall, appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera, and hold positions in orchestras and chamber music groups around the country and the globe.

In just fifty years, the Shepherd School of Music has become a leading international music school, making it both one of the youngest and one of the most prestigious university-level programs in the country. 

About Marin Alsop

One of the foremost conductors of our time, Marin Alsop is the first woman to serve as the head of major orchestras in the United States, South America, Austria, and Great Britain. Winner of the 2025 Golden Baton Award from the League of American Orchestras, Alsop is also the first and only conductor to receive a MacArthur Fellowship.

Alsop serves as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Chief Conductor of the Ravinia Festival. 

Alsop is a 2025-26 Carnegie Hall Perspectives artist, leading concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic, The Juilliard Orchestra and Carnegie Hall’s own Ensemble Connect. Additional season highlights include conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra’s season opener concerts as well as concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. 

To nurture the careers of women conductors, Alsop founded the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship to empower extraordinary women conductors through intensive coaching, mentoring, and financial support.  Today, all 36 award winners hold over 30 music director or chief conductor positions.

In 2021, Alsop assumed the title of Music Director Laureate of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. During her 14-year tenure as Music Director, she led the orchestra on its first European tour in 13 years, conducted more than two dozen world premieres, and founded the music education program OrchKids. 

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Media Contacts:
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Patricia Price / 8VA Music Consultancy
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Shepherd School of Music Profiled for Houston Business Journal

Photo Credit: Jeff Fitlow

Matthew Loden, Dean of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, recently spoke with Janet Miranda from the Houston Business Journal on significant moments in the school’s history and his vision for the future. He cites faculty members such as Larry Rachleff, former director of orchestras, and Stephen King and Richard Bado from the opera program as turning points for the success of the Shepherd School. “If you were going to study the clarinet and you wanted to win an audition with an orchestra,” Loden says, “then you knew that you wanted to go to the Shepherd School to try and learn what you needed to about taking auditions, understanding the repertoire, the music and then learning how to play in a large ensemble.”

Loden emphasizes the importance of bringing in new faculty members “at the height of their professional game,” such as David Chan, former concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, who was hired as Professor of Violin in April of 2025. Other current projects include a Mind, Music and Body Laboratory, led by composer and professor Anthony Brandt, which studies the intersection of creativity and brain plasticity during performance. 

In his vision for the future of the Shepherd School, Loden sees more opportunities to connect with the community, building deeper relationships with arts organizations in Houston and beyond. Last year, Shepherd hosted a community day, which attracted more than 3,000 attendees. The next iteration happens in February and will include a family concert performed by Shepherd students. 

Read the full article here. 

Photo Credit: Brandon Martin

The Shepherd School of Music Highlighted in Classical Voice North America

Photo Credit: Brandon Martin

The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, with highlights that include seven world premieres by the school’s composition faculty: Shih-Hui Chen’s The Birds Are Real, Ambushed From Ten Directions, Richard Lavenda’s Upon Further Reflection, Anthony Brandt’s Chamber Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Kurt Stallman’s The Fruit and the Work, Karim Al-Zand’s A Joint Interest, Arthur Gottschalk’s Tombeaux: pour un création d’une rapsodie, and Pierre Jalbert’s Another Starry Night.

Reporting for Classical Voice North America, James Bash met with Dean of Music Matthew Loden, who spoke of the Shepherd School’s unique position as “a conservatory inside of a research university,” which brings “sophisticated, academically bright and musically brilliantly talented students who want to have the bespoke musical experience.” Loden also mentions its small body of students, with an enrollment of 285, citing that “our size allows us to concentrate on what our students need to be successful in the future.”

Miguel Harth-Bedoya recently joined the faculty as director of orchestra and professor of conducting, following 20 years leading the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. After attending a rehearsal with one of Harth-Bedoya’s student conductors, Bash remarks that his “engaging, enthusiastic teaching style is contagious.”

Read the full article from Classical Voice North America here.

Photo Credit: Michael Stravato