• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header left navigation
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Bio
  • Instructor
  • Speaker
  • Writer
  • Business
  • Blog
Michael DeMarco

Michael DeMarco

Music is My Business

  • Contact
Performing Arts

Van Cliburn Competition: Celebrating The Winner and Remembering Van

van cliburn winner

Be in awe. 

I am compelled to share this amazing video analysis of the winning performance of the recent Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Be in awe of the winner Yunchan Lim from South Korea, at 18, the youngest to win the competition in its 60 year history. Watch it below and experience the reaction of two of the competition’s jury members.

Remembering Van

Van Cliburn at the Moscow Conservatory, playing in 1958’s Tchaikovsky Competition

Cliburn’s Win in Moscow

Cliburn won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958. An American winning in Moscow during the height of the Cold War. He played Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto # 3 to win as Yunchan just did. Cliburn became a bridge between Khrushchev and Eisenhower at the time and then later played for Gorbachev and Reagan to relieve tensions at their summit.  

Meeting Van

Several years ago, while producing a music performance at The White House, I was pleasantly surprised that Van Cliburn was a guest and I was able to meet and enjoy a drink with him.

Cliburn remains the only musician to receive a ticker-tape parade in NYC. (I of course asked him about it.)

After the ticker tape parade, Cliburn arrived at City Hall and when Mayor Robert Wagner asked him to speak, he said:

The thing that thrills me the most is that you are honoring classical music.

Because I am only a witness and a messenger.
I am only one of many that believe in the beauty of music.
“

Van Cliburn

Listen to Yunchan Lim

Do you believe Yunchan Lim’s career as a major International Concert Pianist has just been launched?  View this terrific analysis from Tonebase.

Is Yunchan Lim’s Rachmaninoff 3rd Concerto the greatest ever? 임윤찬 (ft. Cliburn jurors)

Sidebar

Related Articles

la scala Milan

Toscanini Over My Shoulder

sondheim

Farewell Stephen

arturo toscanini

Quotable Toscanini

Featured

arts administration personal mission statement

Personal Mission Statement as a Performing Arts Administrator

Performing Arts
Hamilton Star Renée Goldsberry Surprise Performance

Hamilton Star Renée Goldsberry Surprise Performance

Celebrity Direct Inc.
van cliburn winner

Van Cliburn Competition: Celebrating The Winner and Remembering Van

Performing Arts
Jay Leno performing at the field museum in Chicago.

Jay Leno Performs For Corporate Event | Chicago

Celebrity Direct Inc.
music-business-professions-full

Music Business Professions

Music Business

Music Talent Agent Career Talk

Music Business

More from Keeping Score…

  • Boogie Wonderland in Miami Beach

    Boogie Wonderland in Miami Beach

    Celebrating the Archdiocese of Miami’s 65th Anniversary, my company Celebrity Direct Inc. was asked to provide the legendary Earth, Wind …

  • International Entertainment Buyers Association Conference

    International Entertainment Buyers Association Conference

    Back in Nashville for the IEBA’s 53rd annual conference which this year created panels and roundtables specifically for buyers and …

  • Van Cliburn Competition: Celebrating The Winner and Remembering Van

    Van Cliburn Competition: Celebrating The Winner and Remembering Van

    Be in awe.  I am compelled to share this amazing video analysis of the winning performance of the recent Van …

  • Jake Owen Performs For Paralyzed Veterens of America

    Jake Owen Performs For Paralyzed Veterens of America

    I had the pleasure to book country music artist Jake Owen for the 75th Anniversary of the Paralyzed Veterans of America’s gala at the …

  • George Clooney Celebrity Keynote and Comedian Tom Papa

    George Clooney Celebrity Keynote and Comedian Tom Papa

    The return to in-person events began at the New York Hilton with more than two thousand attendees. Opening the show …

  • Hip Hop Legend DJ Funkmaster Flex

    Hip Hop Legend DJ Funkmaster Flex

    For a celebration by a healthcare marketing company, I booked the legendary DJ Funkmaster Flex to spin a surprise set …

  • Charity Gala + Dancing With DJ D-Nice

    Charity Gala + Dancing With DJ D-Nice

    With a Party Profile in Vogue Magazine – we produced DJ D-Nice (Entertainer Of The Year at the 52nd NAACP …

  • Virtual Live Stream Show Eagles Don Felder

    Virtual Live Stream Show Eagles Don Felder

    We provided Don Felder from the Eagles, co-writer of Hotel California and player of the song’s iconic guitar solo for …

Previous Page Next Page

Loading articles...

No more articles to load.

Error encountered.

  • Bio
  • Instructor / Courses
  • Speaking / Guest Lecture Topics
  • Writing / Research
  • Keeping Score Blog
  • Business Profile
  • Nonprofit Work
  • Contact
  • linkedin account link
  • instagram account link

Michael DeMarco

Celebrity Direct Inc.

260 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10016
212-521-4115

Copyright © 2025 · Michael DeMarco · All Rights Reserved

Return to top ⌃