The Cliburn is to launch the Cliburn International Competition for Conductors in June 2028. Open to 21- to 35-year-old conductors, the inaugural contest will take place in Houston, Texas, in partnership with the Houston Symphony and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and will award $50,000 to the winner.
Marin Alsop, 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 Artistic Advisory Committee – including conductors Alsop, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Kent Nagano, Robert Spano, Juraj Valčuha and Xian Zhang – will 'consult on rounds, repertoire and ways to support young conductors'.
Jacques Marquis, president and CEO of the Cliburn, says:
'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.'
Cliburn International Competition for Conductors: applications and rules
Applications for the inaugural Cliburn International Competition for Conductors will open in October 2026 and close 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. Twelve competitors will then be invited to compete in June 2028 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, with tickets on sale in early 2028 - and will also be live-streamed to an international audience.
Cliburn International Competition for Conductors: the prizes
One grand prize winner will receive a cash award of $50,000, and concert and publicity opportunities. Finalists will each receive cash awards of $20,000.
What is the Cliburn?
Launched in 1962 in honour of American pianist Van Cliburn (winner of the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958), the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition takes place every four years in Fort Worth, Texas, and 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 also presents the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition, taking place every four years, and until recently staged the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, inaugurated in 1999.
Recent winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition include Yunchan Lim (2022) and Aristo Sham (2025).
