In June 2022, Yunchan Lim became the youngest person ever to win gold at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; his performances throughout showcased a “magical ability” and a “natural, instinctive quality” (La Scena) that astounded listeners around the world. As Jury Chair Marin Alsop expressed: “Yunchan is that rare artist who brings profound musicality and prodigious technique organically together.” The depth of his artistry and connection to listeners also secured him the Audience Award and Best Performance of a New Work (for Sir Stephen Hough’s Fanfare Toccata).

Once every four years, a new gold medalist emerges from the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. As Nebraska’s official Van Cliburn presenter since 1994, the Lied Center presents the newly awarded Van Cliburn Gold Medalist for the first time. With previous winners including Olga Kern, Vadym Kholodenko, Jon Nakamatsu, and Behzod Abduraimov, the Cliburn is widely considered to be one of the world’s preeminent music contests.