A Riveting Ride to the Cliburn: The Piano Showdown of the Year!
Economic Windfall for Fort Worth: Cliburn Competition Brings Potential $20 Million Boost
The 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is set to ignite Fort Worth from May 21st to June 7th. The Fort Worth Report is geared up to deliver insider coverage of this exciting event. Keep up with the action here.
Jacques Marquis, the man behind the scenes of one of the world's most esteemed piano competitions, moved to Fort Worth from Montreal in 2013. As the president and CEO of the Van Cliburn Foundation, Marquis has masterfully led the globally recognized Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for the past dozen years.
This year, 30 virtuosos, ageing between 18 and 30, hailing from 15 countries, are preparing to battle it out at TCU's Van Cliburn Concert Hall and Bass Performance Hall for top prizes and career management packages. Just as a boxer steps into the ring, these piano prodigies will give it their all in a three-week competition fiesta that's sure to captivate audiences[1].
During a society discussion hosted by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce at the Kimbell Art Museum on May 13th, Marquis shared his admiration for Fort Worth. He described the Cliburn as one of the world's top two piano competitions and emphasized that the competition represents a "diamond" for the city[2].
Each iteration of the competition generates a massive economic impact of around $15 million to $20 million for Fort Worth[3]. Throughout the competition, visitors spend their hard-earned cash at local restaurants, hotels, and vehicle rental services, injecting a substantial boost into the city's economy.
The very first Cliburn competition began in tribute to the late pianist, Van, who triumphed in the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958[4]. Following his triumph, he received a ticker-tape parade in New York City, marking the first time a pianist had ever been celebrated on such a national scale.
The competition continues to thrive in Fort Worth, and coupled with the Charles Schwab Challenge, it sets the stage for Fort Worth's prominence on the world stage[5].
"The Cliburn puts eyes on Fort Worth," Marquis stated, as millions tune in online to watch the competition and its related concerts through webcasts[1]. The Cliburn's online reach has exponentially grown in recent years, with more than 60 million views in 2022, thanks to partnerships with South Korea and China[1].
In 2022, approximately 30,000 tickets were sold for the Cliburn, with 22.5% coming from 14 countries and 44 states. These visitors contributed significantly to Fort Worth's economy by spending between $500 and $3,000 each during their stay[3].
Furthermore, the foundation's promotional efforts extended to 7 million social media impressions and 5,000 articles worldwide in 2022[1]. This invaluable global recognition represents an immense advantage for Fort Worth's businesses and economic growth.
For more insights into the world of classical music, follow the Fort Worth Report as they bring you the inside scoop on the Cliburn and all its captivating stories!
The Fort Worth Report, in its ongoing pursuit to deliver insider coverage of major events, will provide news updates about the upcoming Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. As the city's prominence on the world stage grows with events such as the Cliburn and the Charles Schwab Challenge, technology has played a significant role in expanding the competition's reach, with over 60 million views in 2022 through webcasts and partnerships with countries like South Korea and China.
