orig. Harvey Lavan Cliburn, Jr.
born July 12, 1934, Shreveport, La., U.S.
U.S. pianist.
He was taught piano by his mother in his early years. After study with Rosina Lhévinne (18801976) at the Juilliard School, he made his debut with the New York Philharmonic. In 1958 he became a national sensation as the first American to win the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. In 1962 he established the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. Possessed of an impressive technique, he limited himself to the Romantic repertoire and spent many years away from the concert stage.