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Clayton Stephenson's journey from a spirited child in Brooklyn to a celebrated concert pianist is a compelling narrative of resilience, talent, and community support.
???? Early Life and Musical Roots
Born and raised in New York City, Clayton began piano lessons at age seven. His mother, Ping Stephenson, enrolled him in lessons to channel his high energy and manage his severe asthma and multiple food allergies. Recognizing his potential, she made significant sacrifices, including leaving her career as a certified public accountant to care for him full-time .Pepperdine University+3cliburn.org+3beachesfinearts.org+3Fort Worth Report
Clayton's early musical education was bolstered by community programs. He joined Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program at age eight and progressed to the Pre-College Division by ten. Without a piano at home, he practiced on a discarded upright piano found on the street until the Lang Lang Foundation donated a new instrument when he was 17 .Fort Worth Report+5cliburnagency.com+5beachesfinearts.org+5beachesfinearts.org+6cliburn.org+6cliburnagency.com+6Fort Worth Report+4beachesfinearts.org+4Pepperdine University+4
???? Milestones and Recognition
Clayton's talent has earned him numerous accolades:
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2022: First Black finalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition .Fort Worth Report+7cliburn.org+7thegilmore.org+7
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2022: Named a Gilmore Young Artist .
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2023: Won the inaugural Nina Simone Piano Competition, receiving a $50,000 prize .BSO+3thegilmore.org+3NECMusic+3
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2024: Awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant .PBS+4BSO+4cliburnagency.com+4
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2025: Honored with the Sphinx Medal of Excellence for his artistic excellence and commitment to community leadership .BSO+2Symphony+2cliburnagency.com+2
???? Academic and Artistic Development
Clayton pursued a dual degree, earning a bachelor's in economics from Harvard and a master's in piano performance from the New England Conservatory under Wha Kyung Byun . His academic journey reflects a blend of intellectual rigor and artistic passion.
???? Performances and Collaborations
Clayton has graced stages worldwide, performing with orchestras such as the Houston, North Carolina, and Cincinnati Symphonies. He has appeared at festivals including Grand Teton and Tippet Rise, and venues like Fondation Louis Vuitton and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall . His collaborations with violinists Nikki and Timothy Chooi have been featured across Europe, Canada, and the U.S.Pepperdine University+4BSO+4cliburnagency.com+4thegilmore.org+4cliburn.org+4BSO+4
???? Media Features
In 2025, Clayton was featured in PBS's "Taking Note" series, highlighting his journey and performance of Godowsky’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes from Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus” .PBS+1PBS+1
???? A Story of Inspiration
Clayton Stephenson's narrative is one of overcoming adversity through dedication and community support. His story serves as an inspiration, demonstrating how passion and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements in the world of classical music.
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Clayton Stephenson is an acclaimed American pianist celebrated for his electrifying performances and profound musicality. A finalist at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, he has captivated audiences worldwide with his technical mastery and emotional depth. Born in the U.S., Stephenson began piano at an early age, training at Juilliard Pre-College before studying at Harvard University and the New England Conservatory.
He has performed with leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Pops, and Seattle Symphony, and has graced stages at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. A passionate advocate for diversity in classical music, Stephenson actively engages in outreach and education. His repertoire spans Romantic and modern works, delivered with both brilliance and sensitivity.
As a rising star, Stephenson continues to expand his career through solo recitals, chamber collaborations, and innovative projects bridging classical and contemporary styles.
He has worked with orchestras including the London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, Bamberger Symphoniker, and NHK, Shanghai, Tokyo and Detroit symphony orchestras, amongst many others.
Recent performances have included concerts with Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Peter Inkinen), Trondheim Symfoniorkester and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (both under Krzysztof Urbański), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (Sir Roger Norrington), Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (Michel Plasson), Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia (Sir Neville Marriner) and Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai (Tito Ceccherini).
Sermet has given solo recitals at major series and venues worldwide, including London’s International Piano Series, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Paris’ Cité de la Musique, Munich’s Cuvilliés-Theater, Lisbon’s Dias da Musica, Copenhagen’s Tivoli and the Oxford and Lille Piano festivals. Last season he made his recital debut at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
American pianist Clayton Stephenson emerged as o
