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Meadows’ Artist Diploma student Korkmaz “Can” Saglam has been handpicked to participate in the upcoming Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, TX. The competition, which will begin later next month, is one of the most prestigious piano contests in the world and Saglam’s selection marks the first time a Meadows student has received this honor.

Saglam, who studies piano performance under Sergei Babayan, was chosen from a pool of 340 pianists to be one of only 30 competitors. With a piano competition of this significance and magnitude, the practice required beforehand can be grueling.

“The Cliburn is one of the most challenging out there in terms of repertoire, so the preparation starts long before the competition,” says Saglam, who must prepare almost four hours of music to be performed across six stages. “A lot of the repertoire are pieces we have been playing for years, but it is a challenge to keep all of them in shape and ready for the stage.”

In addition to familiar pieces, Saglam and his fellow competitors will also have to prepare a commissioned work composed for the competition by Gabriela Montero, a Venezuelan pianist who is also part of the nine-person jury.



Though the total Cliburn prize package is worth an estimated $2 million, competitors are competing for more than just cash awards.

“For an aspiring pianist like Can Saglam, winning or even being a finalist can instantly launch an international career,” explains Chair of Piano Studies, Carol Leone. “Winners usually get a professional management contract and career mentorship for several years; just being in the competition signals that a pianist is among the very best of their generation.”

Performing in the Cliburn is a huge milestone for Saglam, who first discovered the competition when he was 14 years old. That year’s competition featured pianists he already admired, such as Vadym Kholodenko and Beatrice Rana, and he was inspired by their artistry. Their performances made him feel like he was simply enjoying great recitals by pianists, rather than listening to a competition with a tense environment and he knew he wanted to apply for the same competition one day.

“I feel privileged to have the opportunity to perform on the same stage as many other great pianists did,” Saglam says. “I am greatly inspired to prepare for this competition with the guidance of my professor Sergei Babayan, with whom I am very fortunate to work with at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½.”

The Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which will run from May 21 through June 7, will be held at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. For more information, visit .