The Cliburn has announced the 30 pianists who will take part in the first round of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, one of the world’s most renowned showcases for emerging talent. Set to run from 21 May to 7 June 2025 at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, the competition will once again shine a spotlight on the next generation of international pianists aged 18 to 30.

The selected competitors hail from 17 countries and regions, with China, the United States, and Russia the most represented. The average age is 25. A rigorous selection process involved two rounds of jury review, narrowing 340 applicants to 77 who were invited to perform live auditions in Fort Worth. From those, the final 30 were chosen.

Cliburn president and CEO Jacques Marquis praised the jury's care and attention in curating the list: 'We were impressed with the high level of playing, craft, engagement, enthusiasm, and commitment of each of these pianists.'

The full list of 2025 competitors is as follows:

Piotr Alexewicz, Poland, 25

Jonas Aumiller, Germany, 26

Alice Burla, Canada, 28

Yangrui Cai 蔡阳睿, China, 24

Elia Cecino, Italy, 23

Yanjun Chen 陈艳君, China, 23

Jiarui Cheng 程嘉睿, China, 26

Federico Gad Crema, Italy, 26

Shangru Du 杜尚儒, China, 27

Roman Fediurko Роман Федюрко, Ukraine, 20

Magdalene Ho, Malaysia, 21

Carter Johnson, Canada/United States, 28

Xiaofu Ju 鞠小夫, China, 25

Mikhail Kambarov Михаил Камбаров, Russia, 24

David Khrikuli, Georgia, 24

Pedro López Salas, Spain, 27

Philipp Lynov Филипп Лынов, Russia, 26

Jonathan Mamora, United States, 30

Callum McLachlan, United Kingdom, 26

Evren Ozel, United States, 26

Chaeyoung Park 박채영, South Korea, 27

Korkmaz Can Sağlam, Türkiye, 25

Aristo Sham 沈靖韜, Hong Kong China, 29

Kotaro Shigemori 重森光太郎, Japan, 25

Vitaly Starikov Виталий Стариков, Israel/Russia, 30

Anastasia Vorotnaya, Russia, 30

Angel Stanislav Wang, United States, 22

Xuanxiang Wu 武暄翔, China, 18

Ryota Yamazaki 山﨑亮汰, Japan, 26

Sung Ho Yoo 유성호, South Korea, 28

Competitors will begin arriving in Fort Worth in mid-May for orientation and piano selection, ahead of the Preliminary Round on 21–23 May. The full schedule will feature solo recitals, chamber music, and concerto performances with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under conductors Carlos Miguel Prieto and Marin Alsop. Prizes include $265,000 in cash, plus career management and concert bookings valued at over $2 million.

More details, including repertoire and jury information, can be found at cliburn.org.