The 27th Annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford

2024 BIENNIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION

ELIGIBILITY

  • Open to organists who have earned a high school/secondary school degree as of January 1, 2024, up through and including young professionals aged 26 as of the date of the competition.

  • Due to the difficulty in obtaining work visas for foreign artists, competitors must hold U.S. citizenship.

PRELIMINARY ROUND

  • The application form, a $50 nonrefundable fee, and all recordings must be submitted on or before August 5, 2024. The application is available here. (Please note correct date: August 5.)

REPERTOIRE

  • The recording must include:

    • One of these works by J.S. Bach:

      1. Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543

      2. Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532

      3. Fantasy and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542

    • Charles-Marie Widor: Andante Sostenuto, from Symphonie Gothique, op. 70

    • A contrasting work of your choice, composed after 1937.

  • If the applicant wishes to participate in the hymn playing competition during the finals, the recording must also include a performance of Nun danket alle Gott. The performance should include an introduction and performance of all verses as if accompanying a large congregation. At least one of the stanzas must be performed as printed at #397 in The Hymnal 1982 (Church Hymnal Corporation). All competitors are encouraged to participate in the hymn playing competition.

  • Works may be recorded on different organs, but must not be edited within the performance of an individual work. Please submit individual recording files.

RECORDING

  • Audio recordings must not be edited within the performance of each work. They may be performed on any organ. See application form for more details.

JURY

  • To be announced.

FINAL ROUND

  • Up to three finalists will be chosen to compete in-person on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at Trinity College, Hartford. Finalists will be notified by August 15, 2024. ASOFH hosts all competitors in hotel accommodations and reimburses travel expenses up to $500.

REPERTOIRE COMPETITION

  • Each finalist will perform a 45–50 minute public recital. Repertoire from the preliminary round may not be repeated. In addition to repertoire of the competitor’s choosing, the program must include each of the following works:

    • One of the six trio sonatas of J.S. Bach

    • One of the Three Chorals of César Franck

    • A work by a woman or BIPOC composer

ANNUAL DAVID C. SPICER HYMN PLAYING COMPETITION

  • Each finalist (who submitted a hymn with their preliminary application) will lead the audience in the singing of a hymn, to be assigned. Named in honor of the Festival’s founder, this award honors the legacy of David Spicer who was noted for his exceptionally creative hymn playing. Competitors should perform their assigned hymn with careful attention to detail and understanding of the text. Original introductions, accompaniments, interludes, modulations, and/or reharmonizations are expected.

PRIZES

  • First Prize: $15,000, including a solo recital at ASOFH 2025. The first prize winner will also perform a solo work during this year’s Festival Concerts on Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22.

  • Second Prize: $7,500

  • Third Prize: $3,500

  • Audience Prize: $1,500

  • David Spicer Hymn Playing Award: $1,500

JURY

 
 

QUESTIONS