Finalists named at Van Cliburn Competition Final round starts tonight @7:30 CDT

[yellowdogintexas]

4. being in the same room with him was definitely a joy

Actually that happened to me twice.

The first was at Broadway Baptist Church's annual Sing Along Messiah. That was his church and he was there that night. Jeez he was tall! Anyway, I looked up and saw him working his way to his seat.

The other time was in the Bass Hall. It was during the Cliburn concert series in the 50th anniversary year and he came down for the initial concert and through all the pain of his illness, came out to the podium to say a few words before the performance. The section I was in could see him off in the wings to our left so we knew he was there. The rest of the folks near us wondered what the heck we were all so worked up about. Then he came out, standing ovation, tears etc. The Music Director of the FW Symphony escorted him; he could not walk without a bit of help

That was the opening night of the series; it featured several prior Gold Medalists together. They played duets, a two piano 4 player piece and each played a solo. It was a wonderful concert and a fitting farewell from and to a marvelous man.