Countdown to the Cliburn at Levitt Arlington on May 3
Published on April 30, 2025
By Levitt Pavilion Communications
Music lovers across North Texas will have a rare opportunity to hear a Cliburn finalist perform live—and for free—when Countdown to the Cliburn comes to the Levitt Pavilion on Saturday, May 3. The evening will feature two exceptional performances: the Jason Schilling Quartet at 7:30 p.m., followed by internationally acclaimed pianist Clayton Stephenson at 8:30 p.m.
The Levitt’s executive director, Letatia Teykl, said the concert exemplifies the Levitt’s mission of making outstanding performing arts opportunities accessible to the Arlington community and all of North Texas. “It’s an honor for Levitt Arlington to once again host Countdown to the Cliburn,” Teykl said. “This is an incredible opportunity to hear a Cliburn artist with no ticket price, right in the heart of downtown Arlington. We’re proud that the Levitt continues to play an important role in the acquisition of top tier cultural events to our city.”
About Clayton Stephenson and Countdown to the Cliburn
Growing up in New York City, Stephenson discovered his passion for music early, practicing first on a home synthesizer and later on an upright piano discarded by an elementary school. He cultivated his talent through the support of community arts programs, beginning with his acceptance at age eight into The Juilliard School’s Music Advancement Program—an early milestone in a journey that would eventually include a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics and piano performance from Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music.
In 2022, Stephenson made history as the first Black finalist at the Cliburn Competition, one of many international accolades he has earned, and continues to electrify audiences worldwide with performances described by Gramophone as “fresh, incisive, and characterfully alive.”
The Levitt concert is part of Countdown to the Cliburn, a special series of six free performances featuring former Cliburn Competition laureates happening across North Texas May 3-7 in advance of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which will take place May 21–June 7. Known globally as one of the most prestigious events in classical music, the Cliburn Competition shines a spotlight on the world’s top emerging pianists.
The May 3 Cliburn concert is part of a full spring season of free outdoor performances at the Levitt Pavilion Arlington. Upcoming shows include Kin Faux (May 2), Emily Wolfe (May 9), as well DreamFest 2025 on Memorial Day weekend, headlined by The Drifters, William Clark Green, and Ram Herrera. For a complete season schedule, visit levittpavilionarlington.org.