The American Guild of Organists promotes the highest level of organ performance through its National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance. The Competition is intended to serve as a springboard for emerging organists to develop their performance ability by participating in the various demanding stages of this Competition. Underwriting of expenses is provided in part by the Nita Akin Competition Fund. Prizes: First Place - $3,000, the Lilian Murtagh Memorial Prize, funded by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc., plus career development assistance from Karen McFarlane Artists Inc. and a CD recording on the Pro Organo label; Second Place - $3,000, funded by John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders; Third Place - $2,000, funded by Kegg Pipe Organ Builders; Audience Prize - $1000, funded by Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company Inc. 2012 NYACOP
On Sunday afternoon, July 1, 2012, three outstanding young organists competed in the Final Round of the National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance (NYACOP), held in conjunction with the AGO National Convention in Nashville, Tenn. The Final Round was hosted by Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral, Michael Velting, Canon for Music. The three finalists were Thatcher Lyman and Malcolm Matthews of Rochester, N.Y., and Daryl Robinson of Houston, Tex. The required repertoire was: J.S. Bach: Fugue in F Major, BWV 540/2 Judges for the Final Round were Wilma Jensen, Sandra Soderlund, and John Chappell Stowe, aago, chm. The prizes were awarded as follows: First Prize: Daryl Robinson A CD recording on the Pro Organo recording label, Fred Hohman, CEO A performance during the 2014 AGO National Convention in Boston, Mass. Second Prize: Malcolm Matthews Third Prize: Thatcher Lyman Audience Prize: Daryl Robinson NYACOP is a four-round competition. In April 2011, twenty applicants were accepted as official NYACOP competitors. In the anonymous recorded elimination round last October, seven competitors were chosen to advance to the Semifinal Round, held May 25, 2012, at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Of the seven semifinalists, three were selected to advance to the Final Round in Nashville. The NYACOP committee was impressed with the exceptionally high level of musicality, professionalism, and mutual support demonstrated by all of the competitors throughout the 2012 competition. Congratulations and best wishes are extended to all. In addition to the sponsors, judges and hosts, the NYACOP Committee also gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Downtown Presbyterian Church, Nashville, William Taylor, Director of Music, for the use of their instrument and facilities for supplemental practice time for the Final Round. We also extend thanks to local coordinator Donald Cornelius and AGO Executive Director James Thomashower. The NYACOP Committee encourages all eligible organists to seek ever-higher levels of excellence by competing in the 2014 cycle. Repertoire for the new round is posted on the NYACOP page of the AGO web site. The Official Rules and application form will appear in the September 2012 issue of The American Organist Magazine and can be found in electronic form below.
NYACOP Committee Jay Peterson, DMA, SPC |
Updated December 14, 2012