National High School Organ Competition

Next Competition = Fall 2025

Following the successful first edition in 2023, Baylor University School of Music is pleased to continue the National High School Organ Competition, which provides an opportunity for talented young organists to gain valuable performance experience and recognition. The next competition will be held on Saturday, October 5^th, 2024, in Truett Seminary’s Powell Chapel. Contestants will rehearse and perform on its Létourneau Organ (III/54).

Awards

Grand Prize: $1,000 (in memory of Dr. Joyce Jones)
Bach Prize: $500 (sponsored by the Central Texas Chapter of the AGO)
Young Organist Prize: $500 (sponsored by Létourneau Pipe Organs)
Hymn Prize: $250 (sponsored by Wolf Pipe Organs)

General Information

Entry documents and fee (see below) must be submitted by August 15, 2024. Entry fees are non-refundable once a contestant has been selected.
A maximum of 10 contestants will be admitted. If more applications are received, the jury will pre-select based on resume, repertoire list, letter of recommendation and selected repertoire. Candidates will be notified if they are selected by August 20, 2024.
Contestants must be willing to perform as early as 8:00 a.m.
The order of performance at the competition will be chosen randomly by the organizers.
Contestants will each get a minimum of 60 minutes rehearsal time on the Létourneau Organ on Friday, October 4^th, between 11:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Practice time will be scheduled by reverse order of distance from Waco, i.e., the candidate living the furthest away will practice last, the one closest will practice first.
Additional practice organs will be available in the McCrary Music Building on October 4^th and 5^th.
Entrants should report to the registration desk 30 minutes prior to their assigned rehearsal and performance times. An unmarked, published copy of the music must be provided for the judges. Photocopies are not acceptable.
Prizewinners will be announced at approximately 2:30 p.m. in Truett Seminary. Contestants will receive critique sheets from the judges.

Competition Rules

All high school students are eligible.
Repertoire: One free piece by Johann Sebastian Bach (excluding BWV 553–560) and one contrasting piece by a composer from any other period.
The ‘Young Organist Prize’ will be awarded among the three youngest contestants.
Contestants may choose to also perform a hymn of their choice (introduction and three stanzas; interlude and/or re-harmonization are encouraged but not required) if they want to compete for the hymn prize.
Memorization is not required.
An assistant for page turning will be provided if needed; contestants are required to change pistons themselves.
The stoplist of the Létourneau Organ is available at: https://music.baylor.edu/resources/facilities-instruments/powell-chapel-organ
Travel and accommodation expenses will not be reimbursed; contestants must make their own travel arrangements.

Application Process

Both steps must be completed by August 15, 2024

Fill out the application and submit your entry fee of $35 by visiting https://tinyurl.com/organ-competition
Email your resume and repertoire list and one letter of recommendation to Jens_Korndoerfer@baylor.edu

Questions? Contact Dr. Jens Korndörfer, The Joyce O. Bowden Professor of Music and Associate Professor of Organ, at Jens_Korndoerfer@baylor.edu

Past Competition Results

2024

Grand Prize in Memory of Dr. Joyce Jones: James Martel

Bach Prize: Francis Segger

Young Organist Prize: Kalan Warusa

Hymn Prize: Nancy Liu

2023

First Prize in Memory of Dr. Joyce Jones: Daniel Colaner

Second Prize: Abigail Crafton & Michael Guarneiri