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The internationally renowned pianist Van Cliburn
is being awarded an honorary degree from the Cleveland Institute of
Music. Van Cliburn is regarded by many as one of the greatest
pianists of all time, having performed for every President of the US
since Harry
Truman, plus royalty and heads of state around the world.
A little more about Van Cliburn: “With his
historic 1958 victory at the first International Tchaikovsky
Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War, Mr. Cliburn
transcended politics by demonstrating the universality of classical
music. The American-born pianist received a ticker-tape parade, the
only time a classical
musician was ever honored with the highest tribute possible by New
York City and was featured on the cover of Time magazine (May 1958)
with the headline ‘The Texan Who Conquered Russia.’ He quickly
became a household name to people of all ages and, most
significantly, in homes with no previous connection to classical
music.”He’ll be added to the list of Honorary Doctorates at CIM’s
87th Annual Commencement Ceremony Sat 5/19.
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