Pianist Haochen Zhang on his Van Cliburn Piano Competition Experience

All rounds of the competition are now available to watch on The Violin Channel

The Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition recently came to a close in Fort Worth, Texas. 29-year-old pianist Aristo Sham from Hong Kong/China won this year's first prize.

Open to pianists of all nationalities, the event chose 6 finalists who performed concertos with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop. Tune in here to The Violin Channel to watch all rounds of the competition! 

Since his gold medal win at the Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, Chinese pianist Haochen Zhang has gone on to enjoy an international performing career. In celebration of this year's competition, we caught up with the pianist to look back on his Cliburn experience.

What is your best memory from The Cliburn?

My best memory is actually spending my 19th birthday during the final round of the Cliburn Competition. My host family threw a surprise birthday party for me, and so many people came. It remains one of my sweetest memories.

What did it mean to you to win such a prestigious competition?

Winning the Cliburn opened the door and launched my career. It also taught me so much about what the life of a concert pianist could be. I remember having a concerto rehearsal in the morning and performing a recital that same afternoon. I learned how to manage a demanding schedule and tackle the massive repertoire the Cliburn is known for. I also gained so much from hearing and meeting all the wonderful musicians there.

How did winning the competition help you in your career? Can you tell us about the support you received aside from the cash prize?

That’s what made the Cliburn stand out from all the other top-tier competitions — at least at the time I participated. It was the only competition that offered a three-year artist management program for its medalists, including hundreds of concert engagements. The Cliburn wasn’t just interested in producing winners—it was committed to building real concert pianists. Ultimately, that’s what drew me to compete there.

How did you prepare for the rigorous repertoire requirements?

I still remember scrambling to finish academic homework and finals right before the competition! Fortunately, I’ve always had the ability to learn new repertoire quickly — but with nearly five hours of music to prepare, it was still an enormous task. My only advice: keep practicing until you’re ready.

What do you remember hoping to convey to the Fort Worth audience?

That’s simple: I wanted to share with them what inspired me.

What is your advice for young competitors at this year’s edition of the Cliburn Competition?

I’m not sure I’m in a position to give advice — everyone’s journey is different, and we all have to find our own path. That said, one thing might hold true for all: forget that you’re in a competition. Play as if you’re giving concerts. Regardless of the outcome, you’ll enjoy the experience more — and probably so will the listeners.

What projects are you excited about in the coming year?

As artist-in-residence at the NCPA in Beijing, I’m looking forward to performing a Rachmaninoff concerti marathon (all five) with the NCPA Orchestra this June, followed by the same cycle with the Hong Kong Philharmonic a week later. I’m also excited about upcoming recording projects with BIS—both concerti and solo repertoire—as well as a recital tour in Asia and the U.S. I’ll also be performing with several orchestras across Europe and the States, including a return engagement with the Philadelphia Orchestra, among others.