Faces: Ukrainian pianist wins Van Cliburn contest

Vadym Kholodenko, a ­Ukrainian pianist and music teacher, has won the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas, just four months after the death of the contest's namesake.

Beatrice Rana, 20, of Italy, placed second, and Sean Chen, 24, of the United States, placed third, officials announced Sunday night. The winner receives $50,000, a live recording of his or her competition performances, a studio recording and performance attire.

The competition, which is held every four years and remains among the top showcases for the world's best pianists, started May 24 with 30 competitors.

Cliburn died in February at age 78 at his Fort Worth home after battling bone cancer.

People around the world watched performances online, and fans raved on social media about their favorite competitors. Kholodenko, 26, said he was glad his wife could watch all of his performances online in Moscow, where she was with their toddler daughter.

Kholodenko, who had wowed the audience Sunday with his last performance, Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, also won best performance of a new work and best performance of chamber music.

NBC said Monday that Cher will perform live on the talent contest's June 18 season finale. She will sing "Woman's World," the first single off her upcoming album of the same name. Cher, who turned 67 in May, joins other pop artists who have appeared on NBC's hit series and other TV contests to promote new records, including "Voice" guest stars Rod Stewart and Lady Antebellum. Cher's "Woman's World" album, her first in 12 years, is due out later this year. The Grammy, Oscar and Emmy winner has scored a No. 1 single on the Billboard pop charts in each of the last six decades, including her 1998 single "Believe."

Staff and wire reports