Ukrainian Pianist Wins Van Cliburn Competiton

A pianist from Ukraine has won the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Vadym Kholodenko was announced the winner on June 9 in Fort Worth, Texas, where the competition is held every four years.

Beatrice Rana of Italy placed second. Sean Chen of the United States placed third. Nikita Mndoyants of Russia was one of three finalists.

The competition was established in 1962, four years after Cliburn won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

His victory helped ease tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. Cliburn died on February 27.