Performances to feature pianists Aristo Sham and Vitaly Starikov, Janice Carissa, Anne-Marie McDermott
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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art today announced the musicians performing in the 2026 Van Cliburn Concert Series. The musical series will feature three unique performances in Crystal Bridges’ Great Hall through 2026.
The concert series will begin on April 15 as the museum will welcome pianists Aristo Sham and Vitaly Starikov. Sham is celebrated for his astounding intellect, deep emotional resonance, and effortlessly engaging presence. He captured international attention at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, winning both the gold medal and the audience award and earning praise for his authoritative, imaginative artistry.
Russian Israeli pianist Vitaly Starikov is praised for his “raw, deeply felt, and powerful” performances and his ability to draw audiences into musical intimacy. Starikov earned the silver medal at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, captivating listeners with his bold artistry and fresh perspectives on both classical and contemporary repertoire.
The series will continue September 18 with Janice Carissa, a Gilmore Young Artist whose playing has been praised for its “multicolored highlights” and vivid storytelling. A rising star on the international stage, she has appeared at major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Kennedy Center, and the United Nations. Since her Philadelphia Orchestra debut at sixteen, Carissa has performed with leading orchestras across the country, with upcoming engagements including the Minnesota Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Florida Orchestra.
The series will conclude Friday, December 4, featuring Anne-Marie McDermott, one of the most distinguished American pianists of her generation. Acclaimed for her insightful interpretations of everything from Baroque and classical masterworks to 20th-century modernism and contemporary compositions, McDermott has appeared with leading ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and National Symphony Orchestra.
Celebrated as one of the most persuasive ambassadors of American culture, as well as one of the greatest pianists in the history of music, Van Cliburn tore down cultural barriers and transcended politics by demonstrating the universality of classical music. In 1958, Cliburn won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow during the Cold War, which led to worldwide recognition for his musical prowess.
The beautiful Steinway and Sons grand piano played in this concert series was previously Van Cliburn’s home practice instrument. Its characteristic rich, sonorous voice lends itself perfectly to a variety of playing styles and stems from its regular use by so many skilled artists. The piano was donated to Crystal Bridges by Tommy Smith, Cliburn’s long-time partner.
Tickets for each Van Cliburn concert are $45 ($36 for members, $10 for students and teachers). Additionally, Van Cliburn Season Passes are available, which include tickets to all three shows and are $115 ($92 for members).
ARISTO SHAM AND VITALY STARIKOV
WHAT: Van Cliburn Concert: Aristo Sham and Vitaly Starikov
WHEN: Wednesday, April 15 | 7 PM
WHERE: Crystal Bridges | Great Hall | 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR, 72712
WHO: Aristo Sham, gold medalist and audience award winner at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, is celebrated for his intellectual depth, emotional resonance, and spontaneous artistry. A former prodigy featured in Channel 4’s The World’s Greatest Musical Prodigies, he has performed for royalty and appeared with leading orchestras including the London Symphony under Sir Simon Rattle and the Hong Kong Philharmonic under Edo de Waart. His Cliburn performances garnered global acclaim, with videos streamed over 2 million times in 125 countries, and critics praising him as “a marvel of deft characterization” and “a card-carrying risk taker” (The Dallas Morning News, Gramophone, Texas Classical Voice). Splitting his time across three continents, Sham embarks on an ambitious debut season featuring tours in Asia and recitals throughout the United States.
Russian/Israeli pianist Vitaly Starikov has found distinction with “raw, deeply felt, and powerful” (LaScena) performances, while having an unassuming on stage presence and a “willingness less to play at the audience than to draw [them] into musical intimacies” (Dallas Morning News). His bold approach won him silver at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the admiration of fans around the globe. Vitaly’s perspective on music is manifested in his repertoire: he presents music that reflects not only tradition, but also contemporary life, striving to offer new perspectives on familiar music and introduce lesser-known pieces to wider audiences. His Cliburn performance of Bartok’s Second Piano Concerto electrified the room, with a La Scena reviewer noting that “he understood this music, and gave an impactful, lively, and gripping interpretation on all levels: emotionally, architecturally, and in terms of his sound palette.” This inaugural Cliburn season takes him to the Bravo! Vail and Sunriver Music Festivals; Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and Pacific, Topeka, and Springfield Symphony Orchestras, and in recitals throughout the United States.
HOW: Tickets are $45 ($36 for members, $10 for students and teachers). Guests can purchase tickets online or with Guest Experience at (479)-657-2335.
JANICE CARISSA
WHAT: Van Cliburn Concert: Janice Carissa
WHEN: Friday, September 18 | 7 PM
WHERE: Crystal Bridges | Great Hall | 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR, 72712
WHO: Janice Carissa, a Gilmore Young Artist and Salon de Virtuosi winner, is praised for her “multicolored highlights” and “vivid storytelling” at the piano (Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Classical Review). She has appeared on world-class stages including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center, and performed with major orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and symphonies across the U.S. and abroad. Her 2025–2026 season features concerto engagements with the Minnesota Orchestra and Houston Symphony, plus recitals and chamber collaborations with leading artists at festivals like Marlboro and Ravinia. Born in Indonesia, Janice studied at the Curtis Institute and The Juilliard School, and offstage, she enjoys food adventures and photography.
HOW: Tickets are $45 ($36 for members, $10 for students and teachers). Guests can purchase tickets online or with Guest Experience at (479)-657-2335.
ANNE-MARIE MCDERMOTT
WHAT: Van Cliburn Concert: Anne-Marie McDermott
WHEN: Friday, December 4 | 7 PM
WHERE: Crystal Bridges | Great Hall | 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR, 72712
WHO: One of the most dazzling American pianists of her generation, Anne-Marie McDermott has played concertos, recitals, and chamber music throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. She is an insightful interpreter of Baroque and Classical masterpieces, 20th-century modernism, and music by influential contemporary composers. McDermott has soloed with the New York Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the National Symphony Orchestra. She continues her tenure as Music and Artistic Director of the Bravo! Vail Music Festival through 2026. She is the Artistic Director of the Ocean Reef Chamber Music Festival and Artistic Director of the McKnight Center’s Chamber Music Festival. McDermott is currently recording the complete Beethoven piano concertos with Mexico City’s Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería, under Carlos Miguel Prieto. Her recordings also include the complete piano sonatas of Prokofiev, solo works by Chopin, Bach’s English Suites and Partitas, and Gershwin’s works for piano and orchestra. She received a 2024 Honorary Doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music.
HOW: Tickets are $45 ($36 for members, $10 for students and teachers). Guests can purchase tickets online or with Guest Experience at (479)-657-2335.
The Van Cliburn Concert Series Endowment Fund is supported by Susan and Chip Chambers, Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood, Kay and Ellis Melton, Marti and Kelly Sudduth, and Alice L. Walton.
Special thanks to Tommy Smith and Steinway & Sons.
The Mary Ann Greenwood Fund for Van Cliburn at Crystal Bridges honors outstanding music students by providing opportunities to engage with musicians and performances to inspire the next generation of musicians. The Mary Ann Greenwood Fund for Van Cliburn is supported by Marti and Kelly Sudduth and JoAnn Skillett.
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About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 14 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and philanthropist, Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions. The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program, Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities. Some 478,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), conceived as a venue for the music, art, and food of our time. In 2026, Crystal Bridges will complete a 114,000 square foot expansion that will allow the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
Media Contact: media@crystalbridges.org