Yoomi Chang, a doctoral student at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, was named the winner of the 2012 First Presbyterian Church National Organ Playing Competition in the finals held Saturday, March 24 at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the Jack R. Ruhl Memorial Organ built by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company.
The six finalists were chosen from 13 preliminary recorded entries. Ms. Chang was awarded a cash prize of $2,000 and was presented in recital at First Presbyterian Church on April 29, 2012.
Originally from Korea, Ms. Chang studied at Sunhwa Middle School of Art and Sunhwa High School of Art, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in organ performance from Ewha Woman’s University. Her teachers have included Yoohee Lee, Jin Kim, and Heysun Park in Korea.
In 2006, Chang moved to the United States to continue her education and broaden her musical experiences. She completed a Master of Music and Performance Diploma at Indiana University with Dr. Christopher Young. While studying at Indiana University, she was the recipient of IU Music Merit Award GR Scholarship, Margaret H. Hamlin School GR Scholarship and Emma E. Claus School GR Scholarship. She is currently a doctoral student of Dr. James Higdon in organ performance at the University of Kansas.
Prior to moving to Indiana, Chang served as pianist and organist at Somang Presbyterian Church (2002-2006). When she went back to Seoul, she was a piano instructor for the music program at Ginkwan elementary school and also was organist at Dongbu Church (2009-2011) and Gaepodong Presbyterian Church (2009-2011).
Second-place winner, Sheung Chi Chan (Simon), received a cash prize of $1,000. Chan is also a doctoral student at the University of Kansas. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Mr. Chan began his organ study with Dr. Siu Ling Chiu in the Organ Education Series at Hong Kong Cultural Centre in 2000.
In 2003 he obtained a diploma in Organ Performance from the Associate Board of the Royal School of Music. Mr. Chan is a 2005 graduate of Hong Kong Baptist University with the Bachelor of Arts degree in organ performance with first class honors. In 2007 he was awarded the degree of Master of Music at Texas Christian University under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Butler.
Currently, he is a doctoral student in organ performance at the University of Kansas working under Dr. James Higdon and Dr. Michael Bauer. He was a semi-finalist in the Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition and one of sixteen competitors in the Canadian International Organ Competition in 2011.
Other finalists included Sunim Kwag, who is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Texas where she studies with Dr. Jesse Eschbach; Jonathan D. Rudy, who is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting at Indiana University where he studies organ with Dr. Janette Fishell; Aaron E. Sunstein, who is a first year doctoral student at Indiana University where he studies organ with Dr. Christopher Young; and YangSun Yu (Sunny), who is pursuing an Artist’s Diploma in Organ Performance at the University of Texas at Arlington where she studies with Dr. Linton Powell.
The judges for the finals were Dr. James Kibbie, Professor of Organ and Co-Chair of the Organ Department at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Dr. Yun Kim, Organist/Choirmaster at Christ Episcopal Church in Dayton, Ohio; and Todd Wilson, Head of the Organ Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Curator of the E. M. Skinner pipe organ at Severance Hall in Cleveland, Ohio.
This competition is sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church Music Series. Information regarding the 2014 First Presbyterian Church National Organ Playing Competition will be published in April 2013. For further information, see the church’s website at www.firstpres-fw.org or contact Assistant Organist Kathy Miller at 260.426.7421 or [email protected]
The finalists photo shows:
Back row (L-R): Aaron Sunstein, Jonathan Rudy, Sheung Chi Chan (runner-up)
Front Row (L-R): Yang-Sun Yu, Sunim Kwag, Yoomi Chang (winner)
