Feb 9, 2000

DAVID ARCUS NAMED WINNER OF HOLTKAMP—AGO AWARD IN ORGAN COMPOSITION NEW YORK CITY — The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (AGO) is pleased to announce that David Arcus, a native of Kingston, N.Y., has won the ninth biennial competition for the Holtkamp—AGO Award in Organ Composition. His winning composition, Song of Ruth and Naomi, will be performed at the biennial AGO national convention in Seattle, Wash., July 2-6, 2000. The SONG OF RUTH AND NAOMI is set for organ and soprano. "The task of setting the Song of Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17) for the Holtkamp—AGO Competition in Organ Composition presented interesting opportunities and challenges," writes the composer. Entrants were given the choice between the King James and New Revised Standard versions. "Because at least two well-known musical settings use the King James, the NRSV provided the opportunity for a fresh approach with contemporary language and experimentation with form." The required medium (solo soprano and organ) and the additional expectation that the organ play a significant role allow for more involved collaboration between voice and organ. "I was able to give voice to Naomi, who otherwise remains silent in this passage, by having the organ convey Naomi's feelings and responses to Ruth, hence the composition's title." DAVID ARCUS currently serves as Duke University Chapel Organist. He plays for nearly 200 services a year and accompanies the Duke Chapel Choir. He is also the organist of the Duke Divinity School, where he has taught courses in church music and hymnody. Dr. Arcus holds the BMus degree from Oberlin Conservatory and the MMus and DMA degrees from the Yale University School of Music. As a composer, Dr. Arcus has received many commissions, including one from the Raleigh Oratorio Society, which premiered his Hodie for mixed voices and organ in December 1997. In August 1998, Hinshaw Music, Inc. published his Memorial Festival Overture (based on the hymn tune CELEBRATE by Carol Saylor), which began as an improvisation performed in 1997 at a memorial concert for Don Hinshaw in Duke Chapel. Additional awards include winner of the Lloyd Morisett Contemporary Keyboard Improvisation Competition (Oberlin, 1980), the Charles Ives Organ Scholarship (Yale, 1982), and the Yale—AGO Organ Composition Competition (1991, Toccata-Fantasia on HYMN TO JOY, published by Concordia). The HOLTKAMP—AGO AWARD IN ORGAN COMPOSITION is a unique collaboration between three organizations dedicated to promoting and enriching the repertoire for the organ: The AGO, a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to the advancement of the organ and choral music professions, the Holtkamp Organ Company, a member of the professional organbuilding community, and Hinshaw Music, Inc., a member of the professional music publishing business community. Established in 1983 and held biennially, the competition for the Holtkamp—AGO Award is open to citizens of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. All works submitted to the competition must be unpublished. The award includes a $2,000 cash prize provided by the Holtkamp Organ Company, publication of the winning composition by Hinshaw Music, Inc., and a performance at the AGO national convention. Forty-four compositions were entered in the 1999-2000 competition. The judges were Diane Meredith Belcher, David Hurd, and Robert Sirota. The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the AGO seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. The mission of the AGO is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members. The Guild currently serves more than 20,000 members in 340 local chapters throughout the United States and abroad. This information is submitted by F. Anthony Thurman, Director of Development and Communications at the National Headquarters of the American Guild of Organists and the American Organist Magazine. For further information, please contact Dr. Thurman by TEL (212) 870-2310, FAX (212) 870-2163 or E-MAIL <fathurman@agohq.org.>