The Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival, sponsor of a national organ performance competition, has relocated to Hartford, Connecticut, after its first 18 annual sessions in suburban Wethersfield, Connecticut. The competition will be held annually henceforth at Trinity College in Hartford on the chapel’s 78-rank Austin organ. It consists of a High School division and a Young Professional division.
The High School performance competition this year will be held on Friday September 30, with candidates needing to be high school students at some point during 2016. The Young Professional competition accepts candidates up to the age of 26 and will be held at Trinity College on Saturday, October 1 this year. Competition judges will be Diane Meredith Belcher, Christopher Houlihan (a previous ASOF High School competition winner), and John Weaver.
The competition was organized by David Spicer, its current Artistic Director, and previously was held at the First Church of Christ, Wethersfield. Winner of the competition’s first Young Professional prize was Paul Jacobs. Other aspects of the festival include an opening concert at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hartford, featuring a combined choir and performances by the competition judges. The two division winners from the previous season will be featured in performance in a closing concert at St. John’s Episcopal Church, West Hartford.
Applications must be postmarked by June 7, 2016. Information on prizes, application rules, etc., may be found at albertschweitzerorganfestival.org.
