Vaughn Mauren to Schweitzer Organ Festival

David Spicer began as minister of music and the arts at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1986. In 1996 he and Dr. Harold Robles founded the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival. Spicer is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Dr. Alexander McCurdy, and is a graduate of the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Dana, and they have a blended family of seven children and twelve grandchildren.

At age 18, we are going to college! The Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival is moving to its new home at Trinity College in Hartford! After enjoying eighteen glorious years of this annual festival at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, we look forward to even greater community participation moving forward. At this time of transition, I would like to offer a brief history of the festival, along with a report on our 2015 weekend—plus a glimpse of the future. 

The Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival began as an overtone. An inventor-type entrepreneur, Bernard Baruch Surkis, had joined the First Church of Christ, and during a service, he felt that God wanted him to give his newest invention to the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti. His invention was a machine that turned salt water into drinking water. While other machines already did this, his had a special feature, the purpose of which I do not recall. At any rate, Mr. Surkis wished to make fresh water easily accessible for the hospital. Tragically, he died in a car accident, and since he was a friend of mine, I spoke at his memorial service and shared his vision, saying that I would follow through on his idea for the Haitian hospital. I later learned that a machine would cost $100,000! I gulped, but made an appointment with the Albert Schweitzer Institute, then housed in Wallingford, Connecticut. The director at that time, Harold Robles, met with Ruth Brennan, chairperson of my music committee, and Nancy Andersen, from the First Church of Christ, and informed us that our offer to give the machine was wonderful, but not needed, because a donor had given funds to drill a well that would provide fresh water for the hospital.

After a silent sigh of relief that I was “off the hook” for raising the funds to complete Bernie’s dream, I noticed posters on the wall about Albert Schweitzer’s organ recitals. I asked about them, and Mr. Robles stated that there had been an Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival in Holland, and that “we would like to have a festival in America.” We kept talking, and the energy was flowing. I volunteered our church as a possible site—and the rest is history.

We launched the idea of a competition by presenting Thurston Moore’s multimedia production, “Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach,” which had been debuted by the Tennessee Players a few years earlier. Organists who played for this were Ronald Ebrecht, Ellen Hunt, Ezequiel Menendez, Christa Rakich, Catherine Rodland, John Rose, and Ralph Valentine. Guest narrators were Joanne Nesti, Gilbert Bond, and the Rev. Donald W. Morgan. The organ works of Bach were interspersed with readings about or by Albert Schweitzer. The pieces included: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, and the St. Anne Fugue, among others. We had to have overflow seating! Thurston Moore and his wife, Georgianna, were with us for this event.

We tried to fashion the competition after its European counterpart, as it was described to us. The adjudicators opened the event to inspire the finalists, then the competition was the next day. We were told that a large, black curtain hid the players from the judges. 

We decided that Friday night would be our judges’ performance night. The competition was launched. We chose to have the festival on the first weekend after Labor Day, which would always run close to Dr. Schweitzer’s death date (September 4, 1965). His birth date was in January (January 14, 1875), and it was felt that, in Connecticut, the weather might be a little colder than most would wish for.

I selected the repertoire for the competition, which reflected the Schweitzer posters and his friendship with Charles-Marie Widor. As a young boy, I fondly remember those big, grey copies of my music, even though they now lack covers and the pages have become separated. Even so, I still use them!

Hymns were included, because most of us end up in a church position, and it seemed to me that most teachers were not stressing the importance of hymns and their interpretation of the texts. Finalists were to play—the High School Division: a major Bach work, a Widor slow movement, a work from a composer born after 1850, and two hymns; the Young Professional Division: one of the Franck Chorales, a major Bach work, a Widor slow movement, and two hymns. One of the two hymns, which is required, was St. Thomas (Williams)—”I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord.” This became our “Schweitzer Hymn” because the words were by Timothy Dwight (1752–1817), then the president of Yale. He and his grandfather Jonathan Edwards (1703–58) spent time together in the Wethersfield area. The only steeple around was that of the meetinghouse in Wethersfield (still used here at First Church), so they most likely were quite familiar with its beauty. In the second verse of the hymn, Dwight wrote: “I love Thy Church, O God; Her walls before Thee stand. . . .” Reverend Donald W. Morgan felt sure that Dwight had the meetinghouse steeple in mind when he penned those words. 

We felt that three judges would be best, and, like the European model, they would not be able to see the finalists when playing.

We determined that three finalists would be invited in the High School Division and three from the Young Professional Division, to be chosen from the applicants. The level of playing has been incredibly high! On the opening night, we invited the three judges to play 8–10 minutes each and we formed a Festival Choir to sing. Complementing the judges’ selections, our usual repertoire was composed by organists: 

Prelude – (played by me)

Psalm 150, César Franck 

Hymn: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation, hymn tune: Christ Church, Richard Dirksen

Kyrie (Messe Solennelle, op. 16), Louis Vierne 

He Comes to Us, Jane Marshall (The text is from The Quest for the Historical Jesus, by Albert Schweitzer)

 Go Ye Into All the World, Robert Wetzler

Hymn: Let Heaven Rejoice,                 hymn tune: Rock Harbor, music by Alan McMillan, text by Hal M. Helms.

John Walker, a judge for 2015, writes: 

“Emerging from the six brilliant finalists in the eighteenth annual Albert
Schweitzer Organ Festival, Monica Czausz won first place in the Young Professional Division, and Adrian Binkley took top honors in the High School Division. All contestants played at an impressively high level, everyone therefore being declared a winner. Having been nurtured for almost two decades by its founder, David Spicer, ASOF is far more than a performance competition: featured events of the weekend included a festival concert with massed choirs and organ, the competition, opportunities for all contestants to play in services of worship at the First Church of Christ (Wethersfield) and the Cathedral of St. Joseph (Hartford), an organ masterclass with the adjudicators, a field trip to the Austin Organ factory, and shared meals with competitors, adjudicators, and board members of ASOF. Following that memorable weekend, everyone departed with renewed inspiration and confidence in the future of our chosen vocation.”        

Diane Meredith Belcher, judge, writes:

“The eighteenth annual Albert
Schweitzer Festival has a history of bringing together student, volunteer, and professional church musicians, and this year was no exception. It was exhilarating to see the combination of so many talented high school and college/graduate school organists, combined church choirs and vocal soloists, and seasoned professional organists serving as performers, teachers, mentors, and/or judges. As usual, David Spicer led his flock of finalists, assisting musicians, volunteers, and guest judges (Peter Conte and John Walker) with energy and commitment that is astounding. What I continue to love most about this festival is that it truly is about what most organists do and what church music is about: serving God and being at service to others in the church through music. Finalists not only compete, they perform in church and in masterclasses and observe others rehearsing choirs and playing for services. A more collaborative, inspirational, and heartwarming competition/festival one finds only rarely in our profession. Kudos to David Spicer and the board of the ASOF for another wonderful success, and congratulations to all six finalists, who were winners before even arriving.”

I would like to thank the First Church of Christ for eighteen glorious years! A special note of thanks to ministers Donald W. Morgan, J. Jey Deifell, Jr., and Deryk Richenburg for their support and encouragement. It has been wonderful to have so many talented organists with us, along with supporters who travel from as far as the Czech Republic, Wisconsin, and Florida, and have faithfully attended, hearing the church’s magnificent Austin organ. A special note of thanks is given to Austin Organ Service of Avon, Connecticut—Bon Smith, president, and to Alex Belair and Michael Tanguay, for the gracious gift of servicing the organ for this festival. We also thank the additional practice sites for making their instruments available: Trinity Episcopal Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wethersfield, Connecticut; Bethany Covenant Church, Berlin; the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Trinity College, and Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford; St. John’s Episcopal Church and St. James’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford; and First Church of Christ, Congregational, in Glastonbury. The graciousness of the congregation, staff, and the community was truly
a blessing!

This year’s festival featured judges Diane Meredith Belcher, Peter Richard Conte, and John Walker, and opened on Friday, September 11, with a Festival Choir composed of representatives from Center Church in Hartford, the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, and the First Church of Christ. Ezequiel Menendez accompanied, and I conducted.

Here are this year’s finalists.

High School Division

1st Place ($2,000): Adrian Binkley from Madison, Wisconsin, a student of Thomas Bara, Interlochen Center for the Arts. This prize is provided by the Marjorie Jolidon Fund of the Greater Hartford Chapter, American Guild of Organists.

2nd Place ($1,000): Aaron Patterson from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a student of Dennis Elwell.

3rd Place ($500): Elena Baquerizo from Miami, Florida, a student of Thomas Schuster.

Young Professional Division

1st Place ($3,500): Monica Czausz from Houston, Texas, a student of Ken Cowan, Rice University.

2nd Place ($1,500): Robin Ericksen from Macon, Georgia.

3rd Place ($750): Mary Pan from Burlington, Connecticut, currently studying with Thomas Murray, Yale School of Music.

The David Spicer Hymn Playing Award ($1000): Adrian Binkley.

Save the dates: the festival is moving to the last weekend in September—Friday, September 30, to Sunday, October 2, 2016, with an opening concert at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. The competition will be held at Trinity College on Saturday, October 1, and  the 2015 first-prize winners will return on Saturday night to play a recital at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford. A masterclass ending the festival will be held on Sunday afternoon at Trinity College.

We are grateful to our newly formed board of directors for their vision and support. Board members include: Robert Bausmith, chair, Marilyn Austin, Stewart Battle, Robert Clement, William L. Dean, Newton R. Gilchrist, John Gorton, Vaughn Mauren, Ezequiel Menendez, Soo Hwan Pai, John Rose, and Phillip Truckenbrod.

For more information about the festival weekend and next year’s competition requirements, please see our website at www.schweitzerfestival.org, or contact 860/529-1575, ext. 209. The deadline for application is June 7, 2016.

Bernard Surkis would be pleased that a fresh supply, not of water, but of support for young organists, has been created!

David Spicer began as Minister of Music and the Arts at First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1986. In 1996 he and Harold Robles founded the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival. Spicer is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Alexander McCurdy, and is a graduate of the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

It hardly seems possible that ten years have gone by since we began the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival! We have experienced outstanding applicants who reflected superb teaching, wonderful adjudicators, and a high level of music making. Beautiful New England weather gave an idyllic setting for the festival. On Friday evening, September 7, our traditional opening concert was held. The service/choral portions were played by the writer:
Prelude: Benedictus (op. 59, no. 9), Max Reger (played at the first festival)
Psalm 150, César Franck
Hymn: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation (Tune: Christ Church, Richard W. Dirksen)
Kyrie (from Messe Solennelle, op. 16), Louis Vierne
He Comes to Us (with text by Albert Schweitzer), Jane Marshall
Go Ye into All the World, Robert Wetzler
Hymn: Let Heaven Rejoice (text by Hal M. Helms) (tune: Rock Harbor by Alan MacMillan)
The three judges were each invited to play a selection of their own choosing. The artists’ playing from the balcony was projected onto a screen downstairs in the historic Meetinghouse. Frederick Hohman played Comes Autumn Time by Sowerby. Diane Meredith Belcher played her transcription of the Largo ma non tanto (from the Concerto for Two Violins, BWV 1043) by Bach, and the Toccata in B-flat minor (from Pièces de fantaisie, op. 53, no. 6) by Vierne. Paul Jacobs then played the Fugue (from Fantasy and Fugue on B-A-C-H, op. 46) by Max Reger.
Paul Jacobs returned as a judge to the competition in which he had won first prize ten years ago! At that competition, his mother and grandmother flew from Pennsylvania to be present at his winner’s recital. They both returned again this time, to be present as Paul served as a judge.
Saturday morning the three High School Division finalists played the required repertoire. At 2:00 pm the Young Professional Division finalists were heard. The combined repertoire of these six finalists included: hymn tunes St. Thomas (Williams), Coronation, Ein’ Feste Burg, Diademata, and Veni Creator; J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541; Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV 531; Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542; Trio Sonata No. 1, BWV 525, and Trio Sonata No. 6, BWV 530; Charles-Marie Widor, Adagio (Symphony No. 3), Adagio (Symphony No. 5), and Cantabile (Symphony No. 6); Simon Preston, Fantasia, The Christmas Light; Jehan Alain, Litanies; Dan Locklair: “The people respond, Amen!” (Rubrics); and Franck: Chorals nos. 1, 2, and 3.
Immediately after the competition, all finalists and judges had a chance for interaction and discussion over a delicious meal provided by Dana Spicer at her restaurant, Mainly Tea, directly across the street from the Meetinghouse. On Sunday, September 9, all finalists played portions of the 8:00, 9:15, and 11:00 am worship services. At 1:30 pm, a masterclass with the three judges was held. Many important topics were covered, and awards were presented.
The judges’ decisions
High School Division: first place, Benton Blasingame from Collinsville, Illinois, former student of Dr. John Romeri and currently studying with Thomas Bara at the Interlochen Arts Camp; second place, Wesley Hall from Spencer, Massachusetts, student of Patricia Snyder and currently studying with William Ness; third place, Chelsea Barton from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, student of Dr. Shelly Moorman-Stahlman, a professor at Lebanon Valley College.
Young Professional Division: first place, Ahreum Han from New Haven, Connecticut, student of Ken Cowan at Westminster Choir College, of Alan Morrison at the Curtis Institute of Music, and currently at Yale with Thomas Murray; second place, Christopher J. Howerter, SPC, from Emmaus, Pennsylvania, student of Stephen Williams, Michael Krentz, and currently with James David Christie at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music; third place, John Alexander from Greensboro, North Carolina, student of Robert Burns King at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
We are very grateful to Paul Fejko for serving as the screening judge for initial recorded examples of these organists and other applicants. We are also grateful to Ahlborn-Galanti Organs for the $2000 award for first prize in the High School Division, and to the Austin family, who provided the second prize of $1000 in loving memory of Donald B. Austin. The Young Professional Division first prize of $3500 was shared by J.H. & C.S. Odell Pipe Organ Builders, which provided $1500; the Helen L. Reinfrank Music Fund, which provided $1000; and Dr. Marilyn Mason, who also gave $1000. The Reinfrank Fund also made possible the $500 Creative Hymn Playing Award, while the Music Committee of First Church of Christ contributed the $500 Improvisational Hymn Playing Award, both of which went to Benton Blasingame. Bank of America provided the Judges’ Award, totaling $1500. Other prizes and gifts toward the festival—including the High School Division third prize of $500 and the Young Professional Division third prize of $750—came from Austin Organs, Inc., Connecticut River Community Bank, Patrick J. Murphy and Associates, and several individuals in the First Church family.
Special thanks go to Gordon Auchincloss, who was on hand throughout the Saturday competition to offer assistance should the organ need it, and to Bon Smith of Austin Organ Service Company of Avon, Connecticut, who graciously gave the gift of tuning for this festival. Austin Organ Service Company is the regular curator of this instrument, serviced by Alex Belair and Michael Tanguay. Thanks to Betty Standish, Music Committee Chair; Leslie Vliet, ASOF Chair; Dave Gilbert, administrative assistant; and Laurie Allen, for so ably performing the organizational work that made the festival run smoothly and efficiently.
Churches that allowed their instruments to be used for additional practice include Trinity Episcopal Church, Wethersfield, Bruce Henley, organist-choirmaster; St. John’s Episcopal Church, West Hartford, Ralph Valentine, organist-choirmaster; St. James’ Episcopal Church, also in West Hartford, Jason Roberts, organist-choirmaster; and First Church of Christ, Glastonbury, Angela Salcedo, director of music ministries.
We are pleased to announce that the 2008 Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival will have the following judges for the competition: Gerre Hancock, Marilyn Mason, and Frederick Hohman. Plans are underway to feature these organists in the opening concert of the festival on Friday, September 5, at 7:30 pm. The ASOF Committee is hoping to invite six qualified young organists to compete in the two divisions on Saturday, September 6.
The 2007 first-place winners, Ahreum Han and Benton Blasingame, will perform in recital on Sunday, June 8, 2008, at 7:00 pm at the First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Information about the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival and current requirements for the competition are available by telephone at 860/529-1575 ext. 209, by e-mail at <[email protected]>, or by viewing the ASOF website: <www.firstchurch.org/ASOF&gt;.
Photos by Scott Jensen

September 5–7, 2014

David Spicer began as Minister of Music and the Arts at First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1986. In 1996, he and Dr. Harold Robles founded the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival. Spicer is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Dr. Alexander McCurdy, and is a graduate of the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

To encourage young organists—this has been our raison d’être for the past seventeen years of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival, something with which all of us in the profession agree.

It was indeed a treat to hear such wonderfully prepared young organists at the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival in September! One can marvel at these students developing their talents and be grateful for their excellent teachers. That, combined with wonderful organ music, set the stage for the seventeenth annual festival. We are grateful to be able to encourage young organists with this competition. We had some wonderful applicants who sent in outstanding CDs. Judges for this year’s festival were Diane Meredith Belcher, Charles Callahan, and Ken Cowan.

On Friday evening, September 5, our traditional opening concert was held. The service/choral portions were played by the author: Andante (Grand Pièce Symphonique, op. 17), Psalm 150, Franck; Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation (Christ Church), Dirksen; Kyrie (from Messe Solennelle, op. 16), Vierne; He Comes to Us (text by Albert Schweitzer), Marshall; Go Ye Into All the World, Wetzler; Let Heaven Rejoice (text by Hal M. Helms; tune, Rock Harbor, by Alan MacMillan).

Each of the judges played selections of their own choosing on the Austin organ at the opening event. A video camera, via closed-circuit television, projected a view of the organists in the balcony onto a screen downstairs. The selections were: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 662, Bach, and Passacaglia on a Theme by Dunstable, Weaver, played by Diane Meredith Belcher; Lyric Prelude and Fugue, Callahan, and Risoluto, op. 68, Parker, played by Charles Callahan; Fantasie in F Minor, K. 608, Mozart, played by Ken Cowan.

Saturday morning, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the high school division finalists played the required repertoire; at 2 p.m. the young professional division finalists were heard. All finalists were required to play the hymn tune St. Thomas (Williams).

The high school division finalists and the works they played were:

Clara Gerdes—Bach, Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543; Widor, Adagio (from Symphony No. 5); Messiaen, Transports de Joie (from L’Ascension); hymn, Coronation.

Alexander Pattavina—Bach, Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 537; Widor, Meditation (from Symphony No. 1); Langlais, Fête; hymn, Ein’ Feste Burg.

Richard Gress—Bach, Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541; Widor, Andante Cantabile (from Symphony No. 5 in F Minor); Messiaen, Transports de Joie (from L’Ascension); hymn, Veni Creator (1940 Hymnal #217).

The young professional division finalists and the works they played were:

Evan Cogswell—Franck, Choral No. 2 in B Minor; Messiaen, Communion (from Messe de la Pentecôte); Bach, Fantasy and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542; hymn, Slane.

Brian Glikes—Bach, Trio Sonata No. 5, BWV 529; Franck, Choral No. 2 in B Minor; Messiaen, Offrande et Alléluia final; hymn, Diademata.

Nicholas Quardokus—Bach, Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532; Franck, Choral No. 1 in E Major; Vierne, Finale (from Symphonie VI); hymn, Ein’ Feste Burg.

Later that evening, all finalists and judges had a chance for interaction and discussion over a delicious meal provided by Dana Spicer at the Solomon Welles House in Wethersfield.

On Sunday, September 7, the young professional finalists played portions of the 8:45 a.m. worship service. In addition, we thank Ezequiel Menéndez, who invited the finalists to play portions of the 11 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. In Wethersfield at 1:30 p.m., a masterclass with the three judges was held. Many important topics were covered and awards were presented.

The judges’ decisions

High school division: first place, Clara Gerdes from Davidson, North Carolina, a student of Alan Morrison at the Curtis Institute of Music; second place, Alexander Pattavina from Stoughton, Massachusetts, a student of Paul Jacobs at the Juilliard School of Music; third place, Richard Gress from Newmarket, New Hampshire, student of Bruce Adami.

Young professional division: first place, Nicholas Quardokus from Bridgeman, Michigan, student of Janette Fishell at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University; second place, Brian Glikes from Rochester, New York, student of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music; third place, Evan Cogswell from Glastonbury, Connecticut, student of Patricia Snyder, and a recent graduate of the Hartt School of Music.

We are grateful to Robert Bausmith and Jill Peters-Gee, M.D. for giving the young professional division first prize of $3,500; the young professional division second prize of $1,500 came from several individuals in the First Church of Christ community and others. Our thanks to the Helen L. Reinfrank Music Fund for the $2,000 award for first prize in the high school division and to Marilyn Austin and family for the high school division second place prize of $1,000. Thanks go to John Gorton and Richard Pilch for providing $1,000 for the David Spicer Hymn Playing Award, which was given to young professional division finalist Nicholas Quardokus.

Special thanks go to Bon Smith of Austin Organ Service Company of Avon, Connecticut, who was on hand throughout the Saturday competition to offer volunteer assistance, should the organ have needed it. Thanks to Linda Henderson, festival coordinator and associate, for so ably performing the organizational work that made the festival run smoothly and efficiently.

Churches that allowed their instruments to be used for additional practice included the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford, Ezequiel Menéndez, director of music; First Church of Christ, Glastonbury, Angela Salcedo, director of music ministries; and Trinity Episcopal Church, Wethersfield, the Reverend Lois Keen, interim rector.

We are taking steps to move this festival to a more community-based organization. Robert Bausmith is the chairperson, and a board of directors has been formed; I will remain as the artistic director. We are looking forward to having this wonderful event at alternate sites in the future. In our efforts to make this happen, the two first-place winners, Clara Gerdes (high school division) and Nicholas Quardokus (young professional division) will return to play their recitals at Trinity College Chapel, Hartford, Connecticut, on June 14, 2015, at 7 p.m.

Plans are underway for the 2015 Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival September 11–13, 2015. Information about the festival and current competition requirements are available by telephone at 860/529-1575, ext. 209, by e-mail at [email protected], or at the ASOF website: www.firstchurch.org/ASOF. 

David Spicer began as Minister of Music and the Arts at First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1986. In 1996 he and Harold Robles founded the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA. Spicer is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Alexander McCurdy, and of the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

On Tuesday, September 5, 2006, six young organists began arriving in Wethersfield, Connecticut, to participate in the Ninth Annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA. This year the caliber of playing was especially high. All who heard were greatly encouraged about the future of organ playing in our country.

We are grateful to the following churches for allowing these six finalists to practice on their organs: Trinity Episcopal Church, Wethersfield, Bruce Henley, organist-choirmaster; St. John’s Episcopal Church, West Hartford, Ralph Valentine, organist-choirmaster; Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford, Charles Miller, organist and associate minister of Music; Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) Hartford, Canon James Barry, organist and choirmaster; Bethany Covenant Church, Berlin, Olga Ljungholm, minister of Music; and First Church of Christ, Glastonbury, Angela Salcedo, organist-choirmaster.
Friday morning, the finalists were treated to a tour of the Austin organ factory in Hartford. Finalists were able to experience this institution, now in its 114th year, and were able to see pipe metal being cast as well as the many unique machines used in the process of making a pipe organ.

Friday evening, September 9, a concert was held in the historic Meetinghouse of the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield. The prelude was Andante Espressivo (from Sonata in G Major, op. 28) by Elgar. The Festival Choir sang Psalm 150 by Franck. All in attendance sang “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation” (tune Christ Church by Richard Dirksen). The choir then sang Kyrie (from Messe Solennelle, op. 16) by Vierne. David Spicer served as organist-choirmaster for this portion of the concert.

Music from West Africa was presented by St. Mary’s Ghanaian Catholic Ministry Choir from East Hartford. The choir, dressed in ceremonial garb, was directed by Rev. Fr. Savino-Gyimah and Joachim Pennin. Music sung in the Ghanaian tongue was a reminder of Albert Schweitzer’s great missionary work in Africa. Next, the three judges for the competition played on the Austin IV/62. Marilyn Mason played March on a Theme of Handel by Guilmant and Amazing Grace (from Gospel Preludes, Book IV) by William Bolcom, which was commissioned by and dedicated to Dr. Mason. Following this, Frederick Hohman played two excerpts by Widor: Meditation (Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 3), and Intermezzo (Symphony No. 6 in G, op. 42). Thomas Heywood ended the judges’ recital portion with his own composition: Humoresque for Pedal Trombone.

Anthems He Comes to Us by Jane Marshall (with text by Albert Schweitzer) and Go Ye Into All the World by Robert Wetzler were sung by the Festival Choir. These anthems reinforced the idea of the missionary work that was so much a part of Dr. Schweitzer’s life. The concluding hymn was “Let Heaven Rejoice” (tune: Rock Harbor by Alan MacMillan, and text by Hal M. Helms), which has become a tradition at these opening concerts.

Saturday morning, September 9, the High School Division competition was held 9–noon. The Young Professional Division finalists competed 1–4 pm.

High School finalists were Caroline Judith Robinson from Greenville, South Carolina (third prize), who studies with Adam Pajan; Malcolm Ross Matthews from Knoxville, Tennessee (second prize), who studies with Professor John Brock; and Samuel Kohei Gaskin from Beaumont, Texas (first prize), who studies with Marjorie Rasche and Christina Harmon. Gaskin also was the judges’ choice for the most creative hymn playing in this festival.

The Young Professional Division finalists were Ahreum Han, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (third prize), a student of Alan Morrison at the Curtis Institute of Music; Mark Edwards from Ontario, Canada (second prize), a student of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music; and Brenda Portman, from Flint, Michigan (first prize), a graduate of Wheaton College and Northwestern University.

Sunday morning, September 10, all finalists played portions of the 8, 9:15 and 11 am worship services. At 3 pm awards were presented and first-place winners Samuel Kohei Gaskin and Brenda Portman were heard in recital.

Frederick Hohman remarked that “It has been a privilege to have served as permanent juror at ASOF/USA for the first nine years. All recent contestants chosen for the finals have shown remarkable levels of technical achievement. The technical ability and secure memory shown by High School and Young Professional contestants is at a higher level than I can recall in any previous generation. ASOF/USA recognizes and encourages this devotion and achievement in organ-playing with cash prizes; however, equally valuable is the exposure that the festival provides young organists with regard to inspired leadership in hymn-playing, and the detailed, honest, and at times tough and frank feedback of the jurors.”

The total combined repertoire represented by these six finalists included Bach: Trio Sonatas No. 3, BWV 527, No. 5, BWV 529, and No. 6, BWV 530; Concerto in d minor, BWV 596 (Vivaldi); Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 545; from Dupré’s Opus 7: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in B Major and Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in g minor; Widor: Adagio from Symphony No. 2; Adagio from Symphony No. 5, Cantabile from Symphony No. 6, Andante Sostenuto from Symphonie Gothique; Franck: Choral No. 1 in E Major, Choral No. 2 in b minor, and Choral No. 3 in a minor; Hindemith: Sonata II (first movement); Persichetti: Sonata for Organ (Vivace, movement III); Demessieux: Te Deum; hymn tunes: Coronation, Diademata, Eventide, and St. Thomas.

We are grateful to Ahlborn-Galanti Organs for the $2000 award for first prize in the High School Division. The Young Professional Division first prize of $3500 was shared by the Helen L. Reinfrank fund, which provided $2000, and J.H. and C.S. Odell Organ Builders, which provided $1500. Bank of America, Hartford, provided $1500 for the second prize Young Professional Division. Austin Organs, Inc. provided a tour of their facilities and a gift for the judges’ awards. The Helen L. Reinfrank Music Fund provided $500 for the most creative hymn playing. In addition, several local residents gave gifts to this festival, which are most appreciated.

Special thanks go to Gordon Auchincloss, who was on hand throughout the Saturday competition to offer assistance should the organ need it, and to Bon Smith of Austin Organ Service Company of Avon, Connecticut, who graciously gave the gift of tuning for this festival. Austin Organ Service Company is the regular curator of this instrument, serviced by Alex Belair and Michael Tanguay.

Our thanks to Nancy Andersen, festival manager; Karen Franzen, administrative assistant; Betty Standish and Laurie Allen, ASOF/USA Chair, for so ably performing the organizational work that made the festival run smoothly and efficiently. A special note of thanks to Dana Spicer and Mainly Tea of Wethersfield, which provided a reception for the three judges on Friday evening, and a wonderful dinner for finalists and judges on Saturday evening.

At this moment, the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival committee is preparing for our tenth ASOF/USA, to be held in Wethersfield, Connecticut, September 7–9, 2007. Organists Paul Jacobs and Diane Meredith Belcher will join Frederick Hohman as this year’s guest artists/judges. Plans are underway to feature these organists in the opening concert of the festival on Friday evening, September 7 at 7:30 pm. The committee is hoping to invite six qualified young organists to compete in the two divisions on Saturday, September 8.

Samuel Kohei Gaskin and Brenda Portman will perform in recital on Sunday, June 3, 2007 at 7:00 pm.


Information about the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA and current requirements for the competition are available by telephone: 860/529-1575 ext. 209; e-mail: or by viewing the ASOF/USA website: , click “Ministries,” then click “Music” and go to the ASOF/USA link.