The Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition took place in Fort Worth, Texas from May 22 to June 7, 2009.
The Takács Quartet performed with the semifinalists, while the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Conlon accompanied the finalists.
Original works by American composers John Musto, Mason Bates, and Daron Hagen were chosen.
(* denotes members of screening audition jury) Shanghai - Shanghai Conservatory, He Lu Ting Concert Hall, January 15–17, 2009 Hanover - Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover, January 20–24, 2009 Saint Petersburg - N.A.
Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory, January 26–27, 2009 Lugano - Radiotelevisione Svizzera di lingua Italiana, February 1–3, 2009 New York - Rockefeller University, February 12–14, 2009 Fort Worth, Texas - Texas Christian University, February 21–24, 2009 Fort Worth, Texas - Bass Performance Hall, May 22–26, 2009 Like previous Cliburn Competitions, a competition documentary was produced called A Surprise in Texas, directed by Peter Rosen who directed several previous Cliburn documentaries.