NEC Alumni Shine at 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition

NEC celebrates the extraordinary showing at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where NEC alumni took top honors at one of the world’s most prestigious classical music contests.

Aristo Sham ’20 NEC/Harvard captured First Prize and the coveted Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Gold Medal on Saturday, June 7, in Fort Worth, Texas. A graduate of the NEC/Harvard dual-degree program, Sham also received the Carla and Kelly Thompson Audience Award, making him both jury- and audience-favorite. He was awarded $100,000 in prize money for the gold medal and an additional $2,500 for the audience award.

Joining him on the winner’s podium was Evren Ozel ’21, ’23 MM, ’25 AD, who earned Third Prize and the award for Best Performance of a Mozart Concerto for his interpretation of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K. 503 in the semifinal round. Ozel received $25,000 for the bronze medal and $5,000 for the Mozart award.

Both Sham and Ozel will benefit from extensive career support, including concert management, publicity materials, and recording opportunities. Each will release an album on the Platoon Records label, with Sham set to tour internationally and Ozel embarking on a national tour of the United States.

Sham studied at NEC with Victor Rosenbaum while earning a bachelor’s degree in economics at Harvard. Ozel studied with Wha Kyung Byun '74 MM at NEC and previously trained at the NEC Preparatory School. He is currently pursuing his Artist Diploma through NEC’s Institute for Concert Artists.

The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, founded in honor of the legendary American pianist and cultural ambassador Van Cliburn, continues to elevate classical piano performance on the global stage.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding alumni for their artistry, dedication, and inspiring achievements!