Backstage at the prestigious Cliburn Junior Piano Competition: This Week on From the Top

This week From the Top goes behind-the-scenes at the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival (check your local listings or download our podcast here).

Hosted by pianist Peter Dugan, this documentary style episode of From the Top features six of the 23 young pianists (age 13 to 17) chosen to participle in two weeks of high-level competition and intense artistic development at the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival in Dallas, Texas. Tune in to discover the personal journeys and backstories of young artists in this midst of this incredible experience, as well as some of their groundbreaking performances. Listen now.

Meet the Performers

Avery Gagliano, 17, from Washington, DC performing Sonata in E-Flat Major, I Allegro by Franz Joseph Haydn. Avery, an alum of From the Top and past recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, was the Audience Award winner.

2nd Place Winner, Eva Gevorgyan, 15, from Moscow, Russia performing Sonata No. 2 in G Minor, II Andantino Getragen by Robert Schumann

3rd Place Winner, Jiwon Yang, 17, from Seoul, South Korea performing Lowell Liebermann Gargoyles, III. Allegro moderato and IV. Presto feroce

Semifinalist, Chun Lam U, 16, from Hong Kong performing Sonata for Piano Sz. 80 by Bela Bartók

Peer Award Winner, J J Jun Li Bui, 14, from Toronto, Canada performing Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52 by Frederic Chopin

1st Place Winner, Shuan Hern Lee, 16, from Perth, Australia performing Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3, I. Allegro ma non tanto with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ruth Reinhardt