When the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA held its sixth
annual festival in September of 2002, there was much discussion about the best
means to encourage and support young organists in their musical careers and to
increase appreciation for organ music. The festival began in 1997 as a
collaborative effort of the Albert Schweitzer Institute and First Church of
Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut. The Albert Schweitzer Institute has long
promoted programs based on Schweitzer's lifelong interests: peace, humanitarian
values, health, environmental concerns and music. Before traveling to Africa in
1913 to found a missionary hospital, Albert Schweitzer was well known in Europe
for his lectures on theology, philosophy, and music, especially the organ works
of Bach. His own organ concerts in Europe were a source of support for his
medical work. Likewise, the Albert Schweitzer Institute lives out the legacy of
this great man through its many educational programs. The Institute chose First
Church of Christ as the host for the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA with
the hope that it could develop a musical outreach to benefit young organists
throughout North America. In 1998, the first organ competition for high school
and college-age organ students was held as part of the Albert Schweitzer
Festival events.
Since that time, the Wethersfield hosts have supported
talented young organists and attracted a variety of outstanding guest artists
to participate in the festival. David Spicer, co-founder of the festival, is
looking forward to expanding the organ competition to better meet the needs of
today's young organists.
In 2002, ASOF/USA brought the Art of Organ Transcription to
the forefront by featuring the young Australian organ virtuoso Thomas Heywood.
This talented and prolific transcriber dazzled the festival audience with his
solo concert organ arrangements of famous classical and romantic music. His
program included Overture to The Barber of Seville
style='font-style:normal'> by Rossini, and the entire Symphony No. 5
in C minor, op. 67, by Beethoven. Hebrides
Overture (Fingal's Cave) by Mendelssohn, Fantasy-Overture
to Romeo & Juliet by Tchaikovsky, and The
Ride of the Valkyries from Die
Walküre by Wagner, all transcribed by
Edwin H. Lemare, were also offered by American organist Frederick Hohman, known
to audiences worldwide through concert performances, radio, recordings and
television.
At this time, the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival committee
is preparing for ASOF/USA 2003, to be held in Wethersfield on September 5-7.
Concert organists Colin Andrews and Janette Fishell will join Frederick Hohman
as this year's guest artists. Plans are underway to feature these organists in
the opening concert of the festival on Friday evening, September 5, at 7:00
p.m. The committee is hoping to invite 6-10 qualified young organists to
compete in two divisions on Saturday, September 6. Awards and requirements have
been changed for this year, allowing the 20th-century repertoire category to
include works by Marcel Dupré and Louis Vierne. The High School Division
First Place Award has been raised to $1500. To better meet the needs of today's
young organists, the Undergraduate College Division has been changed to the
"Post High School/Young Artist Division" allowing for all qualified
organists up to age 26 to compete, with or without college enrollment. In
addition to the Austin Organs, Inc. Grand Prize of $2000, the First Place Young
Artist will have the opportunity to present an organ recital during the
2003-2004 First Church concert season for an additional fee.
More information may be obtained about the festival by
calling the ASOF/USA office at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield,
Connecticut: (860) 529-1575, ext. 209, or through the website:
<www.firstchurch.org/asof/asofinfo.htm>.
Postscript
In 1949, Schweitzer was invited by the Goethe Bicentennial
Foundation to visit the USA and participate in a week-long festival of music
and lectures in Aspen, Colorado. He donated his entire honorarium of $5,000 to
the purchase of new drugs for the sizable village of lepers that he maintained
at Lambarene in Gabon, Africa. Schweitzer was able throughout his life to use
his knowledge, creative ideas, gifts and talents to benefit many around the
world.
--Nancy Andersen
(ASOF/USA Coordinator)
