Five competitors move on to final round of new Canadian International Organ Competition

Montreal, October 15, 2008 -- The Canadian international Organ Competition (CIOC) hit a high note last night as nine competitors from seven countries competing in the Second Round, dropped to five. Following a spectacular First Round in which 15 competitors from 11 countries competed at Immaculée-Conception Church between October 8 and 10, the nine competitors selected for the Second Round took the stage on October 13 and 14 on the famous Casavant Organ of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church. Each competitor played a 55-minute recital of works from composers of the 19th and 20th centuries with an emphasis on the works of Olivier Messiaen.



As the only international organ competition of its kind in the Americas in 2008, the CIOC is holding its first edition in Montreal between October 8 and 19 in three different churches. The competitors are vying for a total of $72,000 in prizes to be awarded by a world-renowned international jury comprised of nine organ experts. With the exception of the Richard Bradshaw Audience Prize, the jury will award all the prizes. Following a 30-minute deliberation yesterday evening - immediately after the last competitor’s recital, the jury reached a decision regarding the five competitors moving onto the Final Round as well as the winner of the $5,000 Messiaen Prize. The president of the jury and Artistic Director of the CIOC, John Grew, announced the names of the five finalists:

Els Biesemans (Belgium) Frédéric Champion (France) Andrew Dewar (United Kingdon) Jens Korndörfer (Germany) Dongho Lee (South Korea)



“The CIOC is a first-rate competition. Attracting 15 organ virtuosos in its first edition is a great achievement! Whatever the result, these 15 competitors will always be a part of the history and success of the CIOC,” said John Grew.



Messiaen Prize
The Second Round ended with Noël Spinelli, chairman of the CIOC’s Board of Directors, announcing the jury’s choice for the $5,000 Messiaen Prize – awarded to British competitor Andrew Dewar, whose rendition of the compulsory Messiaen pieces, Le mystère de la Sainte Trinité and Offrande et Alléluia final, was very moving. “I am not surprised Andrew won the Messiaen Prize. He has been a prizewinner at other international organ competitions, namely St. Alban’s. I can’t wait for the Finals. It will be spectacular!” declared Mr. Spinelli.



A Prestigious Final Round
Next up are the Finals on October 17 at Notre-Dame Basilica, also played on a Casavant organ. The Final Round will start at 2 PM with three recitals. In their order of play, the first three finalists are Els Biesemans, Jens Korndörfer and Andrew Dewar.  Followed, at 8 PM, by the recitals of the last two finalists: Dongho Lee and Frédéric Champion. The competitors will each play a 60-minute recital – for which the choice of programme has been left to their discretion. After the last recital, the jury will deliberate and announce the three top prizewinners of the Canadian International Organ Competition.



As for the Richard Bradshaw Audience Prize, the audience will select the winner of this $5,000 award among the five competitors performing at the Finals on October 17. “This award is in honour of our friend and colleague, the late Richard Bradshaw, a great supporter of the Competition,” expressed John Grew, the CIOC’s Artistic Director. The public will be able to submit their vote on site during the Finals or on the CIOC’s Website (www.ciocm.org ) until noon on October 19. In fact, this prize will be announced and presented at the Awards Ceremony held during the CIOC’s Closing Gala Concert at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church on Sunday, October 19 at 7:30 PM. Mrs. Diana Bradshaw will award the Audience Prize dedicated to the memory of her husband Richard Bradshaw in person.

About CIOC
The Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) welcomes young organists to Montreal from around the world. Each year, the organisation works to promote the organ as a major instrument in the world of music, and also contributes to the development of organ music through the talent of young organists. The Competition, by showcasing these impressive instruments in their historically beautiful settings, plays an important role in emphasizing the value of our heritage, and recognising Montreal as a major North American centre for pipe organ music. For additional information on the CIOC, visit www.ciocm.org .



Information:

Dina Barghout Canadian International Organ Competition 514-233-3510 Roch Landriault NATIONAL Public Relations 514-843-2345