Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (ots/PRNewswire) – Organists will compete June 20-24, 2023 for a $40,000 first prize
Longwood Gardens announced today that it is now accepting applications for the 2023 International Organ Competition, where aspiring Longwood organists will compete for the $40,000 first place prize, the largest cash prize of any organ competition in the world. The preliminary and final rounds will take place from June 20-24, 2023 held in the magnificent ballroom at Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Applications are available at longwoodgardens.org/international-organ-competition. Only the first 60 applicants aged between 18 and 30 will be admitted. The application period ends on November 7, 2022.
With 146 ranks and 10,010 pipes, the Longwood organ is one of the largest concert organs in the world. After a seven-year restoration, completed in 2011, the organ is back to its original 1930s condition and features today’s most innovative technology.
A distinguished panel of experts will judge the competition including Peter Conte, Principal Organist at Longwood Gardens and Grand Court Organist on the Wanamaker Organ at Macy’s in Philadelphia; Helmut Deutsch, organ professor at the State University for Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart; Simon Johnson, Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral in the UK; Rachel Laurin, Canadian organist and prolific composer; Thomas Ospital, titulaire of the great organ in the Church of St. Eustache in Paris; and Shin-Young Lee, South Korean concert organist.
The winner of the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition will receive the $40,000 Pierre S. du Pont First Prize, a contract with Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists and a performance at Longwood in 2024. Second place will receive the Firmin Swinnen Prize of $15,000 and third place the Clarence Snyder Prize of $5,000. The competition also features a $1,000 Audience Award and a $1,000 AGO Philadelphia Chapter Award. Participants’ travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens is a member of the World Federation of Music Competitions.
Previous winners of the competition include Benjamin Sheen (UK), Joshua Stafford (USA) and Sebastian Heindl (Germany).
Information about Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens is one of the largest gardens in the world, encompassing 1,100 acres of gardens, woodland, lawns, fountains and a grand conservatory. Longwood continues founder Pierre S. du Pont’s mission to inspire people through excellence in landscape design, horticulture, education and the arts. For more information visit longwoodgardens.org.
Questions & contact:
Patricia Evans,
610-388-5442,
pevans@longwoodgardens.org
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