The 2017 St Albans International Organ Festival Competitions will take place July 10–22, 2017. The competitions are open to organists under the age of 33 and the closing date for receiving entries is March 24, 2017.
The recorded pre-selection round jury comprises Bine Bryndorf, Martin Baker, Thomas Trotter, and David Titterington, the festival’s artistic director. The finals jury includes Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, Leo van Doeselaar, László Fassang, David Goode, Pier Damiano Peretti, Naomi Matsui, and William Porter.
Highlights for 2017 include a commissioned work from Philip Moore; the Peter Hurford Bach Prize becomes an independent round; a semi-final round on the restored 1735 Richard Bridge organ in Christ Church, Spitalfields; a concerto final in St. John’s Smith Square, London, with the Royal Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Sian Edwards; an opportunity to improvise ‘in alternatim’ with sung chant and also with solo trombone. For information: www.organfestival.com.
