Cliburn Performance - Mak

Jonathan Mak’s international accomplishments include first prize at the 2009 Manchester International Concerto Competition for Young Pianists and the 2021 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award.

Your Fort Worth Public Library is pleased to host internationally acclaimed pianist, Jonathan Mak at our Golden Triangle location for a performance and interview.

As a destination for discovery, your Fort Worth Public Library is a location for learners of any age. We designed this program for families to enjoy the arts and learn more about Jonathan's musical journey towards competing in The Cliburn.

About the competitor

Jonathan Mak portrait On Jonathan Mak’s third birthday, his sister’s piano teacher decided to give him a trial lesson; he has been actively studying both piano and viola ever since. He made his orchestra debut with the Canadian Sinfonietta just one year later, at the age of 4.

After graduation from the Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts in his native Toronto, he went on to study with Daniel Shapiro at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in piano performance, as well as minors in viola performance and German. Under the tutelage of Boris Slutsky, he recently completed his master’s degree in piano performance at the Yale School of Music, where he is currently pursuing a Master of Musical Arts degree. In fall 2022, he will begin doctoral studies at Rice University with Jon Kimura Parker.

Jonathan’s international accomplishments include first prize at the 2009 Manchester International Concerto Competition for Young Pianists; the 2013 Jean Lumb Foundation Kotcheff Family Arts Award; and the 2021 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award. He has been a guest soloist with numerous orchestras, most notably the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in Bulgaria, Manchester Camerata, Orchestra Filarmonica di Udine, and Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra, and has also given recitals in Italy, Bulgaria, Manchester, China, Vienna, and Poland.

An avid chamber musician, he has been invited to perform at various festivals including the Festival of the Sound in Ontario, Ottawa Chamberfest, and the Edinburgh International Festival. In the summer of 2017, Jonathan was part of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada as an Award of Excellence winner. Returning to the orchestra in 2018, he joined NYOC on their European tour as a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts Michael Measures Prize.

Learn more about The Cliburn Competition's history.