Contact: Katherine Dress (Katherine.dress@verizon.net)
Chairman of DFWAACC Cultural Committee

Van Cliburn Competition - 2009

DFWAACC is serving as the key PR and Outreach link for the Van Cliburn Foundation to the Asian Community in DFW.

This is a new initiative of the Cultural Committee chaired by Kathy Dress. Since January we have organized:

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  Van Cliburn - 2009

  An Asian press reception where the foundation announced its emphasis to reach out to the Asian community since they have noted the very significant increase of top music talent from Asia . The Van Cliburn World Piano Competition is held every four years and is compared to the Olympics of the music world. This year 150 auditions will be given in several cities of the world from a selection of over 200 applicants. Ft. Worth is an audition city and 10 of the 28 competitors are Asian or of Asian origin. In March 30 of these will be given scholarships including travel and stay to continue with the competition which will be narrowed to 16 and to the 6 finalists who are determined in concerts given in May and June. Winners will receive not only a cash prize but most importantly a 3 year contract of concert bookings allover the world by the foundation to properly launch their career. The value of the total package is approximately $1 million in value.

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  Van Cliburn - 2009

  Community support for the Yundi Li concert at Bass Hall in January. We were able to generate approximately 300 Asians as audience. We also co-sponsored a pre-concert reception for the occasion. The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston and her entourage also can to support the outstanding who at 18 was the first Chinese citizen First Prize Winner of the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw. The Bass Hall debut was a grand and exquisite performance to al full house and 2 standing ovations.

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  Van Cliburn - 2009

  Community and media support for the Ft. Worth auditions (Feb 21 thru Feb 24, 2009) and a co-hosted reception on 2/22 when competitors from Greece, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, Russia, China and America will compete. 5 of the 7 are of Asian origin.

We are in the news. Please visit this link.

Fifth Annual Garland Asian American Festival

When:  Saturday, December 6th, 2008
Where: the Saigon Mall – 3212 North Jupiter Road, Garland, TX 75044

Host by: DFWAACC, City of Garland, Garland Asian American Festival

Over 8,000 people will gather together on that day to meet exhibitors, food Booth, Informational Booth from 10AM to 5PM:

• Local, City and national elected officials
• Non profit organizations
• Government agencies, City of Garland, Garland Police Department

Festival, Lion Dance, Cultural Showcase, food booth, vendor, games, musical entertainment starts from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM when the exhibition is still going on.

The Festival, family fun day program includes brief remarks by Local officials, and city Mayors followed by Community Leaders, Sponsors. Many local corporations and community groups strongly support this event.  The Garland Festival committee deeply appreciates the generosity of such companies as our Sponsors: Saigon Mall, DFW Asian-American Citizens Council (DFW AACC), and the City of Garland, as well as many others.

The Garland Asian American Festival formed in 2003 under the umbrella of the Dallas-Fort Worth Asian-American Citizens Council (DFW AACC) is a 501C(3) non-profit organization made of business and community leaders and volunteers from major Asian community organizations. The mission of the Garland Asian American Festival-DFW AACC is to promote the fastest growing population in the City of Garland and introduce, assist Asian involvement in local social, health, education, family quality of life and civic activities that increases community awareness, improves representation and enhances the quality of life for Asian-Americans.

Live interviews are available with the Garland Asian American Festival committee members and our sponsors are available upon request. Please send your interview request to

• Nancy Dinh-Event Chair (nancydinh2003@yahoo.com) 214-563-3613
• Teena Le (teena-le@capitalonebank.com) 972-922-4234
• Koni Ramos-Kaiwi (kkaiwi@garlandisd.net)  972-965-4031
• Tom Nguyen (thomasng@verizon.net) 469-233-6047