Olympic City USA is preparing to welcome the first of three winners of this year’s Van Cliburn International Piano competition, described by the Guardian as “the instrument’s Olympics.”

Flying in from Boston, bronze medalist Evren Ozel, who also earned the Mozart Award, says he is “always happy to play Piano Concerto No. 25,” describing it as “Mozart at his most magnificent.”

“The first movement is grand and glorious, the second delicate and beautiful, and the third charming to the max,” he says.

He will perform on the ENT Center’s Steinway Grand Piano, which Colorado Symphony Philharmonic President and CEO Nathan Newbrough calls “the Ferrari of pianos.” “It doesn’t just want to sit there and be pretty, you have to put the hammer down,” Newbrough says, describing it as “an exceptionally rare instrument.”

Signature Series performances at the ENT Center provides a “more intimate affair” than at the Pikes Peak Center, according to Newbrough. With Thomas Wilson conducting, the October 25 and 26 performances also feature Mel Bonis’ “Suite en forms devalues” and Bizet’s “Symphony No.1.” Ozel says he “will be hanging out back stage listening, especially for Bonis.”

Originally from Minneapolis, Ozel finds his schedule is filled with travel, often spending three to four days each week performing in different cities. A fan of Mediterranean cuisine, he says he looks forward to “scoping out” the Colorado Springs’ food scene. Having recently graduated in May from the New England Conservatory of Music, he now shares a house with four fellow conservatory students who are in classes most of the day, giving him, he says, “plenty of quiet time to practice on the house piano.”

Ozel can be heard performing two Mozart concertos with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra on Alpha Classics recently released album.

The process of arranging appearances by the Cliburn winners began more than a year ago, as Philharmonic staff reached out to competition organizers to make special arrangements for this year’s performances. The Garbee Family, Karen and Bdale, are the sponsors of the series, providing the wherewithal to bring the Gold, Silver and Bronze Van Cliburn winners to the Springs.

Every four years 28 pianists from around the world are invited to Fort Worth, Texas to compete for one of the music world’s most prestigious awards. Created in 1962, the Van Cliburn competition has advanced the careers of numerous musicians. This year’s winners received monetary awards from $25,000 to $100,000. Winners were Evren Ozel (Bronze, US), Vitaly Starikov (Silver, Israel/Russia) and Aristo Sham, (Gold, Hong Kong).