Nightly News   |  February 27, 2013

Pianist Van Cliburn dies at 78

The Julliard graduate who won first place at the 1958 Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow at the young age of 23 became an international celebrity, but remained private throughout the years. NBC’s Brian Williams reports.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>> his name was van cliburn and became an overnight sensation when he won a pino competition in months co in 1958 , back when such a thing could create an overnight sensation . a 23-year-old kid from texas who entered the tchaikovsky competition at the height of the cold war , and won first place. it earned him a ticker tape parade in new york city . > the juilliard graduate became a global celebrity. he retired from the concert stage at the age of 44. the great van cliburn died today in the home of ft. worth, his home of many years. he was 78 years old.