DKScore App is live for Astrologers
Cliburn Van Biography
Latest Updates
Update at: Mar 13, 2026Van Cliburn (Harold Clayton Cliburn Jr.)
Born July 12, 1934, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Van Cliburn was an American pianist whose 1958 victory at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow made him a worldwide name and a symbol of cultural exchange during the Cold War.
Career highlights: He won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958, becoming the first American to do so. This achievement launched a global concert career with major orchestras and prestigious recital halls. He settled in Fort Worth, Texas, where he built a respected artistic presence and contributed to the broader classical music scene. Cliburn recorded extensively for RCA Victor and other labels, with a repertoire spanning Romantic masters to 20th-century composers.
Legacy and ongoing projects: He helped establish the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth in 1962, one of the world''s premier piano competitions. The event continues to identify and support rising pianists and remains a central part of his enduring legacy, along with associated concerts, educational initiatives, and archival releases connected to his career.
Death: Van Cliburn passed away on February 27, 2013, in Fort Worth, Texas, following a battle with bone cancer. His passing was widely mourned in the classical music community, and tributes highlighted his role as a cultural ambassador and his lasting impact on American musical life.
Public presence and social media
As a historic figure, Van Cliburn did not maintain personal social media accounts. Public information about him is carried forward through the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and related institutions, which maintain official pages on major platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, Instagram) to share news, archival performances, and events related to his legacy.
News and notable references
In the years since his passing, tributes, archival releases, and coverage of the Van Cliburn Competition have continued to keep his legacy in the public eye. The competition itself remains a leading platform for young pianists and a focal point for media attention in the classical music world. For current news, consult official competition channels and reputable music news outlets.
Birth Chart
VEDIC · D1| Planet | Deg | Sign | Nakshatra | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ascendant | 4° | Virgo | Uttara Phalguni | 1 |
Sun | 26° | Gemini | Punarvasu | 10 |
Moon | 7° | Cancer | Pushya | 11 |
Jupiter | 21° | Virgo | Hasta | 1 |
RahuR | 17° | Capricorn | Shravana | 5 |
MercuryR | 24° | Gemini | Punarvasu | 10 |
Venus | 23° | Taurus | Mrigashira | 9 |
KetuR | 17° | Cancer | Ashlesha | 11 |
SaturnR | 4° | Aquarius | Dhanishta | 6 |
Mars | 4° | Gemini | Mrigashira | 10 |
Raj Yogas & Planetary Combinations
5 FOUNDDashas
VIMSHOTTARILife's planetary periods.
Numerology Profile
Chaldean Life Path 9 is Mars-in-service—courage with compassion. It indicates completion, humanitarian work, and lessons in letting go and higher purpose.
Chaldean Destiny 7 indicates specialization, research, and spiritual intelligence. It supports analytics, strategy, deep study, and mastery through solitude.
Chaldean Soul 8 desires achievement and influence. It seeks measurable success, respect, and mastery over material outcomes.
Chaldean Personality 8 appears strong, ambitious, and authoritative. Others often see business sense, leadership, and control.
Kabbalah Number 8 reflects an inner spiritual code of power and mastery. It supports leadership, manifestation, and disciplined ambition.
Unlock Birth Number 3 in Vedic astrology: explore personality traits, strengths, challenges, career potential, love compatibility, and life guidance via numerology.
Life Events & Planetary Transits
Key events mapped against the active Dasha and planetary transits at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this profile's Vedic astrology, birth chart, and numerology — answered by our astrologers.
Van Cliburn's chart shows a deeply private emotional life. His Cancer Moon makes him intensely feeling and loyal, while his Virgo ascendant adds a reserved, selective quality to relationships. He never married, and a palimony suit filed in 1996 was later dismissed. Vedic astrology's emphasis on his Cancer Moon suggests profound emotional attachments formed quietly, away from public scrutiny, consistent with his known preference for personal privacy.
