The Olivier Messiaen International Organ Competition 2024 takes place October 22–26 at the Auditorium-Orchestre National de Lyon, France. 

The competition is open to organists under the age of 30 from all over the world. It will take place over four rounds, including three public rounds. The prizes consist of financial awards and an invitation to perform at AIDA. In addition to works by Messiaen, the competition will be open to other repertoires. 

Organist, conductor, and composer David Schelat will retire from a 38-year tenure as minister of music at First & Central Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware, on June 3. During his tenure he led the church to acquire a 29-stop Gabriel Kney organ in 1989 along with new Steinway and vintage Mason & Hamlin pianos, as well as Orff instruments. In 2009 he helped form and led a non-profit organization, Market Street Music, to administer the church’s outreach music programs.

William “Bill” De Turk died March 14. Born May 15, 1945 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, he earned his Bachelor of Music degree cum honore from Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio, in 1967, and his Master of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1969. While at Michigan he studied carillon with Percival Price. In 1974 De Turk was the first carillon scholar at the Bok Singing Tower, Lake Wales, Florida, working with Milford Myhre for one year.

Treasure in the hills: French Romantic organs in a silver boomtown

When searching for sung daily offices, a French-style abbey church, and two French Romantic organs, one might look in Europe, but not in Silverado, California. The city and its namesake canyon, located east of Los Angeles in the Santa Ana range, hold scenery found in old Western films: dusty mountainsides that turn pink at dusk, tumbleweed blowing across the winding two-lane road, a creek with little more than eight ounces of water in its bed, old mine shafts from the silver boom.

Théodore Puget, his sons Eugène and Jean-Baptiste, and his grandson Maurice, cultivated a dynasty of organ manufacturing that is worthy of recognition, though their work is often overshadowed by other organ builders in France. This essay argues that the organs of Théodore Puget and his sons demonstrate innovation and artistry in French symphonic organ building.

Youthful fantasies

James Elwin McCray

A. E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company, Lithonia, Georgia, is celebrating their 50th anniversary.

On December 21, 2023, A. E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company employees gathered to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary. A beautiful engraved blue and clear glass “award” was presented to company founder Arthur E. Schlueter, Jr., to commemorate 50 years of business, 1973–2023. Certificates of achievement were awarded to long term employees. 

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, and the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM) announce Ezechiel Daos as the recipient of the 2024–2025 AAM Gerre Hancock Internship. The program was established to create full-time mentoring opportunities for young church musicians who demonstrate a strong interest in the music and worship of the Episcopal Church. This annual internship is jointly funded by AAM and the host institution and offers the intern ten months of practical experience through intentionally formative work. During his time at St.