Aug 17, 2000

AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS NAMES PRIZE WINNERS IN NATIONAL YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION IN ORGAN PERFORMANCE NEW YORK CITY - The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (AGO) is pleased to announce First, Second, and Third Prize winners in the National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance (NYACOP), held in Seattle, Wash. in conjunction with the AGO National Convention, July 2-6: JI-YOEN CHOI First Prize The Lilian Murtagh Memorial Prize provided by Karen McFarlane Artists $2,000 CD recording provided by NAXOS JOBY BELL Second Prize provided by John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders $2,000 YUN KYONG KIM Third Prize provided by the Noack Organ Company $1,000 JOBY BELL Audience Prize provided by the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company $500 JI-YOEN CHOI, a native of Seoul, Korea and resident of Rochester, N.Y., began piano studies at the age of four. She studied at Sun-Wha music and art school with Suk Kim and Ku-young Lee (piano). At Yonsei University, she studied with Tong-Soon Kwak and Sung-won Paik (organ), receiving her BMus degree there in 1994. Ms. Choi received her MMus degree in 1996 from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she studied organ with Donald Sutherland and harpsichord with Webb Wiggins. She is currently a doctoral student of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music, formerly a student of Katharine Pardee and Michael Farris, and holds the Performer's Certificate from Eastman. She is the organist at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Rochester. Ji-yoen Choi won second prizes in the San Marino National Organ Competition in 1997, and in the 1999 National Young Organ Competition in Fort Wayne, Ind. She competed in the 1998 NYACOP, and was a finalist in the 1998 Calgary International Organ Competition. JOBY BELL a native of North Carolina and resident of Houston, Tex., holds a diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts, a bachelor of music degree from Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C., and a master of music degree from Rice University in Houston, Tex. He is continuing at Rice as a doctoral student, studying with Clyde Holloway. Mr. Bell is organist at the First Presbyterian Church, Houston, and is on the music staff at St. Agnes Academy. He has played recitals in North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Louisiana. YUN KYONG KIM is a doctoral student in organ performance at the Indiana University School of Music, where she also earned her MM degree. She holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of Washington, where she was an organ student of Carole Terry, and studied piano with Robin McCabe and Neal O'Doan. Ms. Kim was a recipient of a scholarship from the Seattle Chapter, and was the winner of the 1993 AGO Region VIII Competition for Young Organists. Currently studying organ with Christopher Young and harpsichord with Elisabeth Wright, Yun Kyong Kim is an associate piano instructor at Indiana University. The AGO NATIONAL YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION IN ORGAN PERFORMANCE was open to organists between the ages of 22 and 32 who were members of the AGO or Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). Twenty-five competitors were selected based upon application and a cassette recording of a live recital to compete in a Tape Round. Seven competitors were chosen to participate in the Semifinal Performance Round; three were chosen to participate in the Final Round. Judges for the Semifinal and Final Rounds were David Dahl, Delbert Disselhorst, and Joan Lippincott. In addition to the cash award, the First Prize winner receives career development assistance from Karen McFarlane Artists Inc. between September 2000 and June 2002, including free publicity materials and advertising, and a CD recording with NAXOS. 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 343 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.