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Keiko Nakasone of Roswell, Georgia May 27, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “I was born in a Small Island, on the southern tip of truth about enzyte Japan named Okinawa. My father loved all kinds of music. As soon as he heard about a young American named Van Cliburn, who had won the piano competition in Moscow, he purchased our family’s first record player and a record to listen to Mr.Cliburn’s music. It was Tchaikovsky’s first piano Concerto. I was only five years old back then. It was the first classical music I’d ever listened to. I never imagined such beautiful and powerful music ever existed. When I went to sleep that night I had a dream. My dream was about me being a falcon, flying high thru mountains. Your Tchaikovsky’s music was playing while I was flying. I still remember that dream like it just happened yesterday. Just like that falcon, I traveled around world. I graduated from University here in USA. I have three sons who’re all grown now. One of my sons studied piano at Julliard for a little bit, but he is now working as a Concept Artist in San Francisco. I did not go into music. I got a degree in Art, but I work as an engineer for one of the biggest companies here in the USA. I still listen to Mr. Cliburn’s Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto and think about that falcon. I have come a long way from that small island in Japan. I have fly away a long distance. I wanted to thank you for giving me that dream that night, Mr.Cliburn. I still have a long way to fly. I will keep listening to your music and move on.” May 16, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments My name is Arthleen (Little) Spalding. I was born in Austin, Texas. My father was a printer and my mother was a secretary. I guess if you had to ‘classify’ our family it would be lower middle class - which is to say money was very rarely spent on luxuries. Some time in the last 50s when I was about 10 years old my mother bought (or may have been given) two tickets to a Van Cliburn concert in Austin, Texas. My piano playing sister was not able to go - so the blessing came my way. That was the first classical music I had ever heard and to this day I get choked up with the emotion of that evening. Thank you Mr. Cliburn for one of the sweetest memories of my life. March 20, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “I graduated from Juilliard the same year as Mr. Cliburn. Being a saxophone major, at Juilliard, in the early 50’ was a bit of a challenge. The woodwind and brass players would hardly acknowledge you – and to the string and keyboard players you were not even a musician. But we thrived on it! One impression that I have always carried with me was the image of Van Cliburn at Juilliard. He had a presence that projected confidence, stature, and a “can do” quality – I have emulated that image many, many times during my career. It must have helped – I’ve had a very successful career in music. I congratulate Van Cliburn for a lifetime of incredible accomplishments – especially on this historic anniversary.” March 20, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “Several years ago Mr. Cliburn made an appearance at a Downtown Chicago record store and I had the great honor and privilege of meeting him and shaking his hand. When notice of the appearance was given mention was also made that Mr. Cliburn would autograph 3 items. I arrived there very early with 18 CDs all containing music recorded by Mr. Cliburn and the book written about him by John VonRhein just to show Mr. Cliburn that a more loyal fan he did not have. Mr. Cliburn very graciously offered and proceeded to autograph all of my CDs and the book I also went to Ravinia a couple of summers ago to see him perform (for the fist time) the Grieg concerto. Ever since 1958 I have greatly admired Mr. Cliburn and I consider him my favorite pianist. I especially remember him every July 12.” March 20, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “I was a flight attendant on your flight to Burbank on November 20, 2007. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Meeting you is one of the highlights of my career. I will alway remember your kind smile and warm heart. Sincerely, March 20, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “Van Cliburn gave me two wonderful birthday presents. Let me explain: My birthday is May 10th. I was born and raised in a small town in West Central Minnesota, about 140 miles from the “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. On my 17th birthday - May 10th, 1968 - Van Cliburn came to Minneapolis to play with the Minnesota Orchestra, then conducted by the legendary Stanislaw Skrowaczewski. Van Cliburn was on a “10th Anniversary Tour” celebrating, as the name implies, the 10th anniversary of his having won the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958. He played his two “signature” works - the Tchaikovsky 1st and Rachmaninoff 2nd - to thunderous applause, numerous encores, and of course standing ovations in the then-home of the Minnesota Orchestra, Northrop Auditorium on the Minneapolis Campus of The University of Minnesota. It was memorable for me because as an aspiring pianist myself at that moment in time, he was a hero of mine then, as he remains to this day. It was all the more memorable for me because 6 months earlier - to the day, November 10th, 1967 - my adoptive father had died, and I was still in the throes of mourning his loss. Van Cliburn’s performance that evening lifted me out of what in retrospect was a deep and gripping depression. Then, on my 24th birthday - May 10th, 1975 - he returned to Minneapolis to give a solo recital in the still-new Orchestra Hall, located in downtown Minneapolis. He played a wonderful repertoire of solo works - Chopin, Brahms, and others I don’t remember - all to the same thunderous applause, numerous encores, and standing ovations. It was all the more memorable for me because - just as 7 years earlier - I was mourning another loss, that of my adoptive mother in December of 1974. And once again, he lifted me from the depths of depression. So I owe him a great debt, perhaps even my life. I am now 56, my own piano career ended in 1969 as I graduated from high school and went on to other pursuits in my life, but Van Cliburn will always have my thanks and my gratitude for having brought me two of the most wonderful birthday presents for which any person might wish, or want. And all I had to do was “be there”. And that is my memory of Van Cliburn. So even now, when I hear one of his recordings played on WRR, or play one from my own library, it evokes the memories of those two wonderful birthdays.” February 18, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “I purchased a few classical CDs today, one of them being Mr. Cliburn’s “My Favorite Liszt”. Being a child of the 50s, the floodgates of memories opened clearly remembering Mr. Cliburn’s achievements. We appreciate his artistry and brilliant talent and for giving the younger generation opportunities that they may never have had without the foundation’s help. Artists open doors for world peace that never close. May the circle of creativity and talent flourish in these difficult times.” February 7, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “It is hard to believe sixteen years ago I was a freshman at TCU and lost in Westover. I was late, panicked and afraid I was going to lose my job as newly minted valet parker. I drove up and down Westover Road looking for Westover Lane. I came across a man walking his dog and smoking a cigarette, so I rolled down my window and asked for directions. A man named Mr. Van Cliburn offered a handshake and told me to come inside and he would find out where I was suppose to be. I remember walking in and seeing a bunch of plants, musical correspondence and a painting/photo of a lady but I really didn’t give it two thoughts. I assumed I had stumbled upon the home of a music professor who had a big house. He found directions for me and I thanked him and went on my way. The next day my boss asked why I was late and I told him the whole story about a guy with a bunch of plants at the end of Westover Road helping me when I got lost. He told me that guy was a famous pianist. I soon recited the same story to my mom, since she played the piano as a child, and asked her if she knew of a pianist with the last name Van Cliburn. I still remember my mom’s disbelief that I met Mr. Cliburn and had no idea of his accomplishments. I think my grandfather just shook his head. At this point at least I knew his first name was Van and his last name Cliburn.” January 25, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “I do not know if Van Cliburn or you yourself provide recommendations for your former entrants when they want to take part in another competition, but I have always had a dream to play in Russia. It started of course when Mr. Cliburn won the International Tchaikovsky Competition 50 years ago and I persuaded my teacher to let me learn the famous concerto that he played in Russia. I had huge hands for my age and so she let me, and we played it at my year-end recital that year (I was on scholarship at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto at the time and got first class honours rating for the performance.)” January 18, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments “I was absolutely delighted to receive the invitation honoring Van at this 50th Anniversary Celebration of his winning the Tchaikovsky Competition! I have known Van since my days at the University of Iowa and, of course, since 1985 when I became Vice-President of the American College of Musicians in Austin, TX. What a wonderful surprise to be able to celebrate with Van such a fantastic achievement.” |