2026 IAO-RCO Organ Competition

The Incorporated Association of Organists (IAO) and the Royal College of Organists (RCO) announce the winner of the 2026 IAO-RCO Organ Competition, Tingshuo Yang. Open to organists aged 18 to 26 years, the competition was held during the 2026 IAO Music Festival in Bristol, July 26–30, with the final held at Bristol Cathedral.

Tingshuo, a recent graduate of St. John’s College, Cambridge, played Fantaisie in A by César Franck, Naïades by Louis Vierne, and “Toccata” from Suite by Maurice Duruflé in his winning recital. The other finalists were Marcus McDevitt, senior organ scholar at New College, Oxford; and Conor McGlone, recently appointed assistant director of music at Birmingham Cathedral.

As well as a first prize of £1,200 and prizes of £400 for the two other finalists, the competition offers prizewinners recital opportunities including Birmingham Town Hall, Bristol Cathedral, Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Great St. Mary’s, the University Church, Cambridge. Elizabeth Lesan was awarded the Susi Jeans Memorial Prize for her performance in the semi-final round. Competition judges were Sarah MacDonald, Mark Lee, and Peter King. 

For information: rco.org.uk.

Competition finalists with judges: Elizabeth Lesan, Oskars Kalnins, Anna Kirillova, Tingshuo Yang, Marcus McDevitt, Conor McGlone, Sarah MacDonald, Peter King, Mark Lee (photo courtesy Royal College of Organists)