The Atlanta Chapter of the American Guild of Organists held its 2022 Taylor Organ Competition March 12 at First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia. Held every three years, the competition is for organists age 23 and younger who either are enrolled in a school in the United States or are a legal resident of the United States.
Five finalists were chosen from 19 applicants who submitted recordings that were judged by Robert Bates, Jonathan Moyer, and Carole Terry. The finalists invited to perform in Atlanta were Adam Chlebek, Aidan Hill, Katherine Jolliff, Sarah Palmer, and Audrey Pickering. Each finalist was required to play a prelude (or fantasy or toccata) and fugue by Bach; Liszt’s transcription of Wagner’s “Pilgrims’ Chorus”; Fantasy on Prospect by Aaron David Miller, which was commissioned by the competition committee; and a work of the performer’s choice composed in 1930 or later.
Ken Cowan, Janette Fishell, and Michael Unger served as the jury for the final round. Katherine Jolliff, a student at Eastman School of Music, won first prize of $10,000 and a concert in Atlanta to take place during the chapter’s 2022–2023 program season. Adam Chlebek, a student at Oberlin Conservatory, was awarded second prize of $5,000.
For information: agoatlanta.org.
Top row: Ken Cowan, Janette Fishell, and Michael Unger; bottom row: Katherine Jolliff, Audrey Pickering, Adam Chlebek, Aidan Hill, Sarah Palmer
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