Van Cliburn International Competition

An Israeli/Russian took silver and a Minnesotan won bronze in the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition

The field narrowed from 12 competitors to the top 6 pianists. Recitals continue Tuesday night before the final awards ceremony June 7.

Plenty of people still play, but the piano is no longer the fixture it once was

After hearing their names announced before a packed audience at the Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU late Sunday night, the pianists huddled together in a corner of the stage to nervously ask Cliburn staff questions about the next round, which runs May 28-June 1 at Bass Performance Hall. Seventeen musicians vied for the semifinals after Xiaofu Ju of China withdrew Saturday due to medical reasons.

Competitors try to put their own spin on the dazzling and difficult Rachtime, a blend of Rachmaninoff and ragtime.

Remaining competitors include 3 Russians and a Ukrainian, though organizers say the focus is on art, not politics

Bananas are everywhere at the Cliburn. Crates of the fruit are housed in the organization’s office in downtown Fort Worth, and visitors might occasionally spot a bunch on staffers’ desks.

Jacques Marquis came to Fort Worth from Montreal in 2013 to lead one of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions.

Not only was Lim lauded for his viral final concerto of Rachmaninov’s “Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30” at Bass Performance Hall in downtown Fort Worth, he was celebrated for becoming the youngest pianist to win the top prize.

Some of the world’s best young pianists will return to Fort Worth this spring in hopes of securing the gold in the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Thirty-nine contestants, from age 38 to 72, will compete in the contest, which starts Wednesday in Fort Worth.