The second Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA was held September 10–12 at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut. The three-day event includes two concerts and a national competition for young organ students. Winners receive awards to further their music education.
Six finalists were chosen from taped auditions, four in the high school division, and two in the college division. High school finalists included Scott P. Myers, Landenburg, PA; Sarah R. Thrush, Mechanicsburg, PA; Jeffrey P. DeVault, Broomall, PA; and Stephen M. Scarlato, Ellington, CT. College finalists were Erik G. Meyer, Collingswood, NJ; and Joshua D. Dumbleton, Oklahoma City, OK. This year’s judges were John Weaver, Catherine Rodland, and Frederick Hohman.
The festival began on Friday morning with a tour of the Austin Organ Company in Hartford. That evening featured a multimedia presentation of “The Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach,” by Thurston Moore. Slides were projected on the sanctuary walls while narrators related the life experiences and legacy of Albert Schweitzer. Bach works were interspersed throughout the production, played by Frederick Hohman, Catherine Rodland, and David Spicer. On Saturday the high school competition took place in the morning and the college division in the afternoon.
On Sunday, Sarah Thrush played the prelude and Stephen Scarlato played the offertory and postlude at the 8 am worship service. At the 9:15 service, Stephen Scarlato played the prelude and Joshua Dumbleton played the postlude. Sarah Thrush played the prelude at 11 am and Jeffrey DeVault the postlude. Frederick Hohman accompanied the choir at both the 9:15 and 11 services, while David Spicer played the service music.
On Sunday afternoon, Frederick Hohman interviewed the six finalists, Catherine Rodland, and David Spicer for an upcoming production of “Midnight Pipes.” At 4 pm the winners were presented in recital and all finalists received monetary awards and gifts. The Austin Grand Prize of $2000 (First Place, College Division) went to Erik Meyer.
Second place college division ($1000 from Financial Administrative Services) was given to Joshua Dumbleton. In the high school division, first place went to Scott Myers ($1000 sponsored by Equity Bank). Sarah Thrush and Jeffrey DeVault tied for second place ($500 sponsored by Anne and Walter Kelley; a second gift of $500 was provided by an anonymous donor). Third place went to Stephen Scarlato ($500 sponsored by Dutch Point Credit Union). The judges divided the college third prize ($500 from Foley-Baker) among the four high school finalists for their high level of musicianship.
The recital program opened with high school division winner Scott Myers: the hymn “St. Thomas;” Prelude and Fugue in G, Bach; Cantabile (Symphony No. 6), Widor; Aria, Hancock; Litanies, Alain; the hymn “Ar hyd y nos.” College division winner Erik Meyer played the following: the hymn “Slane”; Fantasy and Fugue in g, Bach; Choral No. 1 in E, Franck; two excerpts from Rubrics, Locklair; Homage to Frescobaldi, Langlais.
The first weekend after Labor Day was chosen as the date for this annual festival because it is near the death date of Albert Schweitzer, September 4. In addition to the prize sponsors, the festival also receives support from Bon Smith of Austin Organ Service Co., of Avon, CT, Fleet Bank, and the Hartford AGO Chapter.
