Marie Rubis Bauer, dma J. Melvin Butler, dma The National Competition in Organ Improvisation seeks to further the art of improvisation by recognizing and rewarding superior performance in the field. A flourishing tradition of improvisation is fundamental to a truly vital musical culture. The competition is open to all organists regardless of age or citizenship. First-place winners of a previous NCOI are not eligible. The NCOI occurs biennially. The competition commences with a recorded Preliminary Round in the autumn of odd years. The Semifinal and Final Rounds take place during the summer of even years, in conjunction with the AGO National Convention. Prizes: First Place - $3,000, funded by McNeil Robinson; Second Place - $2,000, funded by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders; Third Place - $1500, funded by Pamela and Steven Ruiter-Feenstra; Audience prize - $1000, funded by David and Robin Arcus. Further details are published in THE AMERICAN ORGANIST. You may also request information from National Headquarters by email, fax, mail or phone.
The final round, held on June 23, at the AGO’s biennial National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, included a prelude/fantasia/toccata and fugue based on one of the given themes, and a free improvisation based on one of the given musical themes. Three competitors were chosen to compete in the final round. The First Prize of $2,000, provided by the Holtkamp Organ Company, was awarded to Jason Roberts, Organist and Choirmaster at St. James’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford, Connecticut. Jason is a graduate of Rice University, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and has just received his doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music. The Second Prize of $1,500, provided by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, was awarded to Steven Ball, Organist at Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing, Michigan, and staff organist of the Michigan Theater. Steven is a graduate of the University of Michigan. The Third Prize of $750, provided by Mary Louise Herrick, was awarded to Herbert Buffington, organist at Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta and a graduate of Duke University and Peabody Institute. The Audience Prize of $1,000, provided by David and Robin Arcus and McNeil Robinson, was awarded to Herbert Buffington.
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