Reuter announces 2009 Augustana Arts/Reuter National Undergraduate Organ Competition winners

The Augustana Arts - Reuter Undergraduate Organ Competition took place the first week of March at Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver, Colorado. This new national competition is unique in three ways: it is open only to undergraduates; the competitors are required to perform a concerto; and it includes hymn playing. Now in its second year, the competition is a joint effort by the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kansas, and Augustana Arts, a performing arts series in Denver, Colorado, based at Augustana Lutheran Church.

The competition began with the efforts of Cindy Lindeen-Martin, former coordinator of the Ottumwa, Iowa competition, who is organist and associate minister of music at Augustana Lutheran Church. Michael Shasberger is minister of music at Augustana, which has a chamber orchstra, thus making possible a concerto component. Last year's finalists have gone on to win other competitions and play recitals around the country. Three of the last eight finalists will be heard in a special recital, "Rising Stars," at the AGO national convention in Philadelphia.

This year's competition took place on March 9 on the Reuter Opus 2071 (IV/65) at Augustana Lutheran Church. Each of the four finalists played for 45 minutes: Christopher Jacobson, a junior studying with John Ferguson at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; Lars Gjerde, originally from Norway and now a senior at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he studies with Marilyn Schempp; Christian Lane, a junior at the Eastman School of Music, studying with David Higgs; and Rico Contenti, a sophomore student of David Higgs at the Eastman School.

First prize ($5000) went to Christian Lane; second prize ($2000) to Rico Contenti; and honorable mention ($500 each) to Christopher Jacobson and Lars Gjerde. (Total prize money of $8000 is provided by the Reuter Organ Company.) The judges for the competition were Marilyn Mason, Joseph Galema, and Joyce Shupe Kull.

On Sunday, March 10, Jacobson, Gjerde and Contenti participated in the church's 10:15 am worship service, playing the prelude, postlude and one hymn. On Sunday afternoon, Marilyn Mason conducted a masterclass at Whatley Chapel, closing the session with a performance of Bach's Toccata,  Adagio and Fugue in C, BWV 564. In the evening a concert featured Christian Lane, Cindy Lindeen-Martin, the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra, and the Augustana Chamber Choir, conducted by Michael Shasberger. The program opened with the Concertino for Organ, Strings, and Percussion by Pierre Petit, played by Lindeen-Martin and the orchestra, followed by the Te Deum by Charpentier. The rest of the program focussed on the competition, the finalists and the first prize winner. After presentations of the prizes by representatives of the Augustana Foundation, the Denver AGO chapter, and the Reuter Organ Company, Christian Lane played the Final from Vierne's First Organ Symphony. There followed Corrette's Concerto No. 2 in A, played by Lane and the chamber orchestra.

The third annual competition is scheduled for March 13-16, 2003. More information can be found on the Augustana and Reuter web sites:

<www.augustanaarts.org&gt;

<www.reuterorgan.com&gt;.

--S. Christopher Leaver

What a treat to hear such wonderfully prepared young organists at the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival in September! It speaks well of them developing their God-given talents, and of their excellent teachers. That, combined with wonderful organ music, set the stage for the sixteenth annual festival, held at First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut. We are grateful to be able to encourage young organists with this competition. We had some wonderful applicants who sent in outstanding CDs, and we thank Charles Callahan for serving as the screening judge for these applications. Judges for this year’s festival were Diane Meredith Belcher, Cherry Rhodes, and David Hurd.

On Friday evening, September 6, the traditional opening concert was held. The service/choral portions were played by this writer: Andante Espressivo (Sonata in G Major, op. 28), Elgar; 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 (Rock Harbor), (text by Hal M. Helms), tune by Alan MacMillan. 

At the Friday evening opening concert, each of the judges played selections of their own choosing on the Austin organ. A video camera, via closed-circuit television, projected a view of the organists in the balcony onto a screen downstairs. The selections: Salix (from Plymouth Suite), Whitlock; Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, op. 7, no. 3, Dupré, played by Diane Meredith Belcher; Variations sur un Noël bourguignon, Fleury; Toccata in B Minor, Gigout, played by Cherry Rhodes; Arioso and Finale, Hurd, played by David Hurd.

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: 

Anna Pan—Bach, Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541; Widor, Andante Sostenuto (from Symphonie Gothique); Demessieux, Te Deum, op. 11; hymn tune, Ar Hyd Y Nos.

Bryan Dunnewald—Bach, Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532; Widor, Adagio (from Symphony No. 2, op. 13); Duruflé, Fugue (from Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain, op. 7); hymn tune, Ar Hyd Y Nos.

Alexander Pattavina—Bach, Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 537; Hancock, Air for Organ; Widor, Meditation (from Symphony No. 1, op. 13); hymn tune, Ar Hyd Y Nos.

The Young Professional Division finalists and the works they played were: 

Alcée Chriss III—Bach, Trio Sonata No. II in C Minor, BWV 526; Franck, Choral No. 1 in E Major; Duruflé, Toccata (from Suite, op. 5); hymn tune, Slane.

Derek Remeš—Bach, Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541; Franck, Choral No. 3 in A Minor; Langlais, Féte; hymn tune, Diademata.

Patrick Kreeger—Bach, Toccata and Fugue in F Major, BWV 540; Franck, Choral No. 3 in A Minor; Vierne, Finale (from Symphony No. 5); hymn tune, Slane.

Later that evening, all finalists and judges had a chance for interaction and discussion over a delicious meal provided by Dana Spicer at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wethersfield.

On Sunday, September 8, the young professional finalists played portions of the 9 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 topics were covered, and awards were presented.

The judges’ decisions

High school division, first place, Bryan Dunnewald from Arvada, Colorado (Interlochen Center for the Arts), student of Thomas Bara; second place (tie): Anna Pan from Burlington, Connecticut, student of Joseph Ripka; and Alexander Pattavina from Stoughton, Massachusetts, student of Philip Jones.

Young professional division, first place, Alcée Chriss III from Oberlin, Ohio (Oberlin Conservatory), student of James David Christie; second place, Derek Remeš from Rochester, New York (Eastman School of Music), student of David Higgs; third place, Patrick Kreeger from New Haven, Connecticut (Yale University), previously a student of Alan Morrison at the Curtis Institute of Music, and currently studying with Martin Jean.

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 family and others; our thanks to Evelyn Lee and Betty Standish 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; $500 was given to high school division finalist Bryan Dunnewald and $500 to young professional division finalist Derek Remeš.  

Special thanks go to Bon Smith and Alex Belair of Austin Organ Service Company of Avon, Connecticut, who were on hand throughout the Saturday competition to offer assistance, should the organ have needed it. (It did not!) We are also grateful to Bon Smith for his gracious gift of maintenance for this festival. Alex Belair and Michael Tanguay of Austin Organ Service Company are the regular curators of this instrument. 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 Bethany Covenant Church, Berlin, Olga Ljungholm, minister of music; the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford, Ezequiel Menéndez, director of music; Covenant Village of Cromwell, the Reverend Glen Halvorsen; First Church of Christ, Glastonbury, Angela Salcedo, director of music ministries; First Congregational Church, Southington, John Parsons, minister of music; and Trinity Episcopal Church, Wethersfield, Father Scott Lee, rector.

Our 2013 first-place winners, Bryan Dunnewald and Alcée Chriss III, will perform in recital on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. at the First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Plans are underway for the 2014 Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival, including the opening concert of the festival on Friday evening, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. 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.&nbsp;

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. 

Part two of two

National Competition in Organ Improvisation

The ninth National Competition in Organ Improvisation was held at St. James Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago. Five semi-finalists were chosen from 19 preliminary round recordings. Judges for the preliminary round were Justin Bischof, Marianne Ploger, and Bruce Shultz. Five semi-finalists resulted from the recorded round: Steven Ball, Vincent Carr, John Karl Hirten, David J. Hughes, and Tom Trenney. Judges for the semi-final and final rounds were James Biery, Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, and Hans Davidsson. Richard Proulx composed original themes for the competition.
The three finalists chosen to compete in the final round on Monday evening, July 3, were Vincent Carr, John Karl Hirten, and Tom Trenney. The first prize of $2,000, provided by the Holtkamp Organ Company, was awarded to Tom Trenney, director of music and organist at First Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Michigan. The second prize of $1,500, provided by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, was awarded to Vincent Carr, a graduate organ student at Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music where he studies with Martin Jean. An audience prize of $1,000 provided by David and Robin Arcus and McNeil Robinson was awarded to Tom Trenney.
A 30-page souvenir booklet, which included a history of the NCOI competition, competition criteria, semi-finalists’ biographies and photographs, judges for all rounds, specifications of the Austin/Skinner organ at St. James Cathedral, statements from the prize donors, and lists of NCOI committees, previous judges, and composers was made available to those attending the semi-final and/or final rounds. This booklet also included 14 pages of themes used in past competitions.

National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance

On Sunday, July 2, three organists competed in the final round of the National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ: Robert Horton, Bálint Karosi, and Scott Montgomery. Each performed Bach’s Fantasy and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542, Georg Böhm’s Vater unser im Himmelreich, and Max Reger’s Fantaisie and Fugue on “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,” op. 40, no. 1. Competitors were allowed to complete their program with a contemporary work of their choice. These were Cinq versets sur le “Victimae Paschali” by Thierry Escaich, performed by Horton; Two Portraits for Organ: I. György Ligeti, II. Béla Bartók by Bálint Karosi, performed by the composer; and Olivier Messiaen’s “Les deux murailles d’eau” and “Prière après la communion” from Le Livre de Saint Sacrement, performed by Montgomery.
First place (The Lilian Murtagh Memorial Prize: $2,000 cash award and career development assistance from Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc., and a CD recording for the Pro Organo recording label) went to Scott Montgomery, director of music and organist at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Champaign, Illinois, and a master’s student of Dana Robinson at the University of Illinois. Second place ($2,000 provided by John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders): Bálint Karosi, a native of Budapest, Hungary, and a student of James David Christie at the Oberlin Conservatory. Third place ($1,000 provided by the Noack Organ Co. Inc.): Robert Horton, assistant professor of music at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa. Audience Choice prize: Scott Montgomery ($500 provided by Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company Inc.). The Reger Prize: Robert Horton ($500 provided by Jim Zinkhan and Heather Holowka).
Judges for the final round were Christa Rakich, Charles Tompkins, and Christopher Young.

Recitals

St. Ita’s RC Church was the site of the recital by Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin on Wednesday, July 5. Cauchefer-Choplin is titular at St. Jean Baptiste de la Salle in Paris and co-titular at St. Sulpice, Paris. Her program included Suite pour Orgue, Bédard; Prelude (from Suite, op. 5), Duruflé; Mélodie Intérieure, Grunenwald; Résurrection (from Symphonie-Passion), Dupré; and an improvisation on a submitted theme (“Chicago”). The elegant French Gothic architecture of the church was the perfect setting for Cauchefer-Choplin’s elegant playing, and the Opus 2918 Wicks organ (1949–50), rebuilt in 2002–03 by H. A. Howell, provided the necessary color and brilliance for the program of French works. Passion and delicacy were evident in pleasing proportion throughout the program, and the improvisation on the tune “Chicago” demonstrated technical mastery and structural coherence, and brought the audience to its feet.

San Diego Civic Organist Carol Williams played an unusual program at St. Vincent de Paul Church on Thursday, July 6. Beginning with a virtuosic performance of the Liszt Prelude and Fugue on B.A.C.H., in a syncretic version by Jean Guillou, the artist then offered the Six Sketches on Children’s Hymns, op. 481, by Barrie Cabena, winner of the Holtkamp-AGO Award in Organ Composition, The Brothers Gershwin arranged by Howard Cable, and Toccata “Store Gud, vi lover deg” by Iver Kleive.
A veteran of numerous performances at the outdoor Spreckels Pavilion, as well as recitals worldwide, Williams was right at home with the eclectic program, playing with brilliance in the Liszt, tenderness in the Cabena, playfulness in the Gershwin, and sheer enjoyment in the Kleive toccata. The venerable 1901 Lyon & Healy organ has been under the care of Alfred J. Butler of New York City.

Wolfgang Seifen played an all-improvisation concert on the Opus 2207 Reuter organ (III/64) at Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette on Wednesday, July 5. The program consisted of an improvised Symphony in Six Movements based on submitted themes. Seifen amazed the audience with his phenomenal technique, even combining the submitted themes with patriotic tunes in honor of the recent holiday. Listeners praised his phenomenal technique, energy, and command of the organ, showing the wide variety of color in the recent installation. He was given an enthusiastic standing ovation.

The Morrison Duo, Jeannine Morrison, piano, and Alan Morrison, organ, played a recital at College Church Wheaton (Schantz Opus 2012, III/54), on Thursday, July 6. The program included Flying Fingers, Johnny Costa; Sinfonia, op. 42, Dupré; Newmark Variations and Mountain Music, Harold Stover; and Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Lutoslawski. One heard many comments on Mrs. Morrison’s flawless piano technique and the overall polished performance of the duo in what proved to be unfamiliar repertoire for most convention-goers.
—Jerome Butera

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