Six finalists will begin competing on Wednesday night for cash prizes in the 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
The gold medal winner's prizes are worth more than $500,000 in cash and performance fees. Results will be announced Sunday.
The finalists are Davide Cabassi, 28, of Italy; Sa Chen, 25, of China; Chu-Fang Huang, 22, of China; Alexander Kobrin, 25, of Russia; Roberto Plano, 26, of Italy; and Joyce Yang, 19, of South Korea.
Some 270 pianists submitted written applications, and 147 pianists from 34 countries were invited to audition.
Cliburn is the acclaimed pianist from Fort Worth, Texas, who gained prominence after winning the first Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow in 1958, six months after the launch of Sputnik. He is not one of the judges but attends many performances and presents the awards.
The contest was created in his honor in the 1960s. It is held every four years.