The East Carolina University
Young Artist Competition
for Pre-College Organists
The East Carolina University Young Artist Competition for Pre-College Organists is an innovative outreach program designed to inspire young musicians in our region to strive for the highest level of musicianship and technical accomplishment in organ performance. The competition is open to any pre-college student in the United States. In addition to generous monetary prizes, the competitors will also compete for the two additional prizes in Hymn playing and Bach interpretation.
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The 14th Annual Organ Competition for Pre-College Organists: March 21, 2020
Open to High School organists from across the USA – Generous Prizes
For eligibility, repertoire, and application procedures, please visit www.ecu.edu/music
Open to High School organists from across the USA – Generous Prizes
For eligibility, repertoire, and application procedures, please visit www.ecu.edu/music
2018 Competition Details
The competition will be staged in two rounds. From the recorded application round three finalists will be chosen to compete live on March 17, 2018. All three will receive prizes and will be considered for the two special prizes mentioned above: The Bach Prize and the Hymn-Playing Prize. Organists chosen for the Final Round arrive for practice on Thursday and/or Friday, and attend the 7:30 p.m. recital by the competition judge. The organ competition will take place in the afternoon of Saturday March 17, on the Perkins and Wells Memorial Organ, C.B. Fisk, Opus 126, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which borders the ECU campus.
The competition will conclude with the awarding of prizes; however competitors are encouraged to remain in Greenville for Sunday (March 18) service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist) as well as Monday (March 19) when they are invited to observe sacred music lessons and classes. Competitors are also welcome to have a free organ lesson with Professor Andrew Scanlon, to be scheduled at a convenient time during the weekend.
All recitals, masterclasses, and the competition itself are open to the public. Full organ competition details may be found on the competition webpage hosted on the ECU School of Music website.
The competition will conclude with the awarding of prizes; however competitors are encouraged to remain in Greenville for Sunday (March 18) service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist) as well as Monday (March 19) when they are invited to observe sacred music lessons and classes. Competitors are also welcome to have a free organ lesson with Professor Andrew Scanlon, to be scheduled at a convenient time during the weekend.
All recitals, masterclasses, and the competition itself are open to the public. Full organ competition details may be found on the competition webpage hosted on the ECU School of Music website.
Schedule
February 14, 2018
Postmark deadline to submit application form, fee, and recordings
Thursday and/or Friday, March 15-16, 2018
Finalists practice at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. A schedule will be announced when finalists are determined. Finalists and/or family members welcome to observe sacred music classes/lessons while in Greenville. Please make arrangements with Prof. Scanlon
Friday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.
9:00-afternoon: Practice time continues
TBA: East Carolina Campus tour, courtesy of ECU organ majors
7:30 p.m. Organ Recital by past competition winner Katherine Johnson (St. Paul's Episcopal Church). Reception follows in St. Paul's Parish Hall.
Saturday, March 17
9 am-12 pm: Finalists warm-up at St. Paul's Episcopal Church
12:30-2:30 p.m.: Organ competition followed by awarding of prizes
2:30 p.m.: Reception
Afternoon: Faculty available to teach lessons (by appointment, please contact Prof. Scanlon)
Sunday, March 18
All are welcome to attend services at St. Paul's Episcopal Church (8:00, 10:30 a.m.)
All are welcome to attend the 5:00 p.m. service of Choral Evensong-St. Paul's Episcopal Church
February 14, 2018
Postmark deadline to submit application form, fee, and recordings
Thursday and/or Friday, March 15-16, 2018
Finalists practice at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. A schedule will be announced when finalists are determined. Finalists and/or family members welcome to observe sacred music classes/lessons while in Greenville. Please make arrangements with Prof. Scanlon
Friday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.
9:00-afternoon: Practice time continues
TBA: East Carolina Campus tour, courtesy of ECU organ majors
7:30 p.m. Organ Recital by past competition winner Katherine Johnson (St. Paul's Episcopal Church). Reception follows in St. Paul's Parish Hall.
Saturday, March 17
9 am-12 pm: Finalists warm-up at St. Paul's Episcopal Church
12:30-2:30 p.m.: Organ competition followed by awarding of prizes
2:30 p.m.: Reception
Afternoon: Faculty available to teach lessons (by appointment, please contact Prof. Scanlon)
Sunday, March 18
All are welcome to attend services at St. Paul's Episcopal Church (8:00, 10:30 a.m.)
All are welcome to attend the 5:00 p.m. service of Choral Evensong-St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Official Rules
Young Artist Competition for Pre-College Organists
Eligibility: The competition is open to pre-college students between the ages of 13-18 who are residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, or Florida. Current students of the judges and previous first place winners are ineligible to compete.
Competitors must submit three copies of a recording (on a compact disc) postmarked no later than February 14, 2018 of the following repertoire for solo organ. The recordings must contain no speaking, and each piece must be continuous and unedited; recordings must not be marked with the name of the competitor.
1. One work by Johann Sebastian Bach.
2. One piece composed between 1850-1950 in a Romantic style.
3. One piece composed after 1950 in a style contrasting with the second work.
Performance from memory is optional. Total performance time of the repertoire must not exceed forty (40) minutes.
Compositions to be performed at the final round are to be the same as those on the recording with the following addition: All finalists will be sent a competition hymn packet and should be ready to play an introduction and designated stanzas of all hymns contained therein. One hymn from this packet will be selected, and each finalist will be notified at their practice session of the hymn chosen to be played on the competition day.
Not more than three persons will be chosen for live competition. Each will receive an equal amount of practice the days before and of the competition. Teachers or other assistants provided by the competitor may help with registration choices and turn pages; however, each competitor must accomplish his or her own registration changes (i.e. piston changes) during the competition. Both the preliminary recorded round and final competition will be judged with complete anonymity and judges’ comments will be given to each competitor. Performers must use legal scores. The judge’s decision will be final. The competition will be open to the public.
Young Artist Competition for Pre-College Organists
Eligibility: The competition is open to pre-college students between the ages of 13-18 who are residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, or Florida. Current students of the judges and previous first place winners are ineligible to compete.
Competitors must submit three copies of a recording (on a compact disc) postmarked no later than February 14, 2018 of the following repertoire for solo organ. The recordings must contain no speaking, and each piece must be continuous and unedited; recordings must not be marked with the name of the competitor.
1. One work by Johann Sebastian Bach.
2. One piece composed between 1850-1950 in a Romantic style.
3. One piece composed after 1950 in a style contrasting with the second work.
Performance from memory is optional. Total performance time of the repertoire must not exceed forty (40) minutes.
Compositions to be performed at the final round are to be the same as those on the recording with the following addition: All finalists will be sent a competition hymn packet and should be ready to play an introduction and designated stanzas of all hymns contained therein. One hymn from this packet will be selected, and each finalist will be notified at their practice session of the hymn chosen to be played on the competition day.
Not more than three persons will be chosen for live competition. Each will receive an equal amount of practice the days before and of the competition. Teachers or other assistants provided by the competitor may help with registration choices and turn pages; however, each competitor must accomplish his or her own registration changes (i.e. piston changes) during the competition. Both the preliminary recorded round and final competition will be judged with complete anonymity and judges’ comments will be given to each competitor. Performers must use legal scores. The judge’s decision will be final. The competition will be open to the public.
Awards:
First prize: The Cathee Jean Huber Memorial Prize, sponsored by East Carolina Musical Arts Education Foundation. $1,500
Second Prize: The Fisk Prize, sponsored by C.B. Fisk, Inc., Organ builders. $750
Third prize: The American Guild of Organists Prize, sponsored by the Eastern Carolina Chapter of the AGO. $300
Special prizes:
The Bach Prize: recognizing the outstanding performance of a work by Johann Sebastian Bach
The Hymn Prize: recognizing the day’s most outstanding hymn playing
All finalists will be awarded a compact disc of their performance.
First prize: The Cathee Jean Huber Memorial Prize, sponsored by East Carolina Musical Arts Education Foundation. $1,500
Second Prize: The Fisk Prize, sponsored by C.B. Fisk, Inc., Organ builders. $750
Third prize: The American Guild of Organists Prize, sponsored by the Eastern Carolina Chapter of the AGO. $300
Special prizes:
The Bach Prize: recognizing the outstanding performance of a work by Johann Sebastian Bach
The Hymn Prize: recognizing the day’s most outstanding hymn playing
All finalists will be awarded a compact disc of their performance.