Every four years, the Van Cliburn Competition offers the opportunity for a select group of outstanding young musicians to showcase their talent while challenging themselves to reach new standards of artistic excellence.This year's three winners raise the bar once again. 20-year-old Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii claimed the Gold Medal. Already known in his home country for his refined and effortless playing, a webcast of his spellbinding performances at the 2009 Cliburn brought Tsujii to the attention of hundreds of countless new fans throughout the world, while raising his status in Japan to superstar. Blind since birth,Tsujii states his firm belief that, "there are no barriers in the field of music."

The youngest participant in the competition, 19-year-old joint-Gold Medalist Haochen Zhang gave his debut recital at the Shanghai Music Hall at the age of five. He moved to the United States at 15 to attend the Curtis Institute of Music where he is pursing a Bachelor of Music degree. 23-year-old Silver Medalist Yeol Eum Son is considered among the most important artists of her generation in South Korea. She has been a featured soloist with the New York Philharmonic on several occasions, most recently as part of the orchestra's historic visit to Seoul.

"Tsujii kept the audience spellbound from start to completion." FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM