# Most prestigious classical-music competition?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-prestigious-classical-music-competition/939361>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 4, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-prestigious-classical-music-competition/939361 "2021-04-04T01:25:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-prestigious-classical-music-competition/939361/1 "2021-04-04T01:25:06Z")

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The Van Cliburn seems to be considered the Olympics of classical music, but the Chopin Piano Competition would give it a run for its money. Is there any higher-regarded classical-music contest than the Cliburn?

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**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-prestigious-classical-music-competition/939361/2 "2021-04-04T01:32:40Z")

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The “International Tchaikovsky Competition” has a lot of cachet as well. It got off to a flying start in 1958 when Van Cliburn won the piano segment.