The AGO/Marilyn Mason Award in Organ Composition is held every two years. Originally known as the AGO/Holtkamp Award, the competition began in partnership with the Holtkamp Organ Company in 1984. In 2012, Marilyn Mason became the new sponsor. The winner of this competition receives a $3,000 prize, publication of the piece by Hinshaw Music Inc., A Fred Bock Music Company, and a world premiere performance at the AGO National Convention. This competition is biennial and calls for a work for organ solo; the specific requirements vary each year the competition is held. The present procedure calls for proposals for the commission of an organ solo work. Rather than prescribed criteria, the competition encourages proposals that reflect a composer’s particular strengths and interests.
Award: $3,000 cash prize, publication by Hinshaw Music Inc., and a premiere performance (tentative) at the 2022 AGO National Convention in Seattle, Washington.
Guidelines for the 2022 AGO/Marilyn Mason Award in Organ Composition
Submit an Entry for the 2022 AGO/Marilyn Mason Award
2020 AGO/Marilyn Mason Award in Organ Composition
Joel Peters of Montreal, Quebec was awarded the 2020 award. His piece, Eine Wolke nahm ihn Weg, was to be premiered at the 2020 AGO National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the premiere has been temporarily postponed.
Mr. Peters is currently organist at St. James United Church in Montreal. He is also co-artistic director and founder of Earth World Collaborative, a creative force which generates new music, art, film, and literature through collaboration.
AGO/Marilyn Mason award winning pieces available from Hinshaw Publishing
2016 AGO/Marilyn Mason Award—The Moonpiper, Hinshaw Music HMO193, by Ivan Božičević Listen
2014 No prize was awarded
2012 AGO/Marilyn Mason Award—Festive Voluntary, Hinshaw Music HMO191, by Nicholas O’Neill
2010 AGO Award—Theme and Variations on Le P’ing, Hinshaw Music HMO190, by Michael Bedford
2008 AGO/Holtkamp Award—Prelude and Fugue in F Minor, Hinshaw Music HMO187, by Rachel Laurin
Listen Prelude In F Minor Fugue In F Minor
2006 AGO/Holtkamp Award—Six Sketches on Children’s Hymns, Hinshaw Music HMO183, by Barrie Cabena Listen to recordings by American Public Media’s PIPEDREAMS program
Away in a manger God sees the little sparrow fall Jesus, tender shepherd, hear me
Jesus loves me: Jesus loves me Oriental partibus: Loving Shepherd of thy Sheep
Royal Oak: All things bright and beautiful
2004 AGO/Holtkamp Award—A Sweet for Mother Goose, Hinshaw Music HPO3009, By George Akerley
2002 AGO/Holtkamp Award—What Wondrous Love Is This, O My Soul?, Hinshaw Music HMO179, by Emily Porter
2000 AGO/Holtkamp Award—Song of Ruth and Naomi, Hinshaw Music HMV116, by David Arcus
1998 AGO/Holtkamp Award—Confitemini Domino, Hinshaw Music HMO175, by Carlyle Sharpe
1996 AGO/Holtkamp Award—Fantasia and Fugue on St. Theodulph, Hinshaw Music HMO173, by Aaron Hunt & Three Spirituals for Palm Sunday, Hinshaw Music HMO174, by Robert Greenlee
1994 AGO/Holtkamp Award—Variations Sur Un Vieux Noel, Hinshaw Music HMO171, by Timothy Tikker
1992 AGO/Holtkamp Award—That Line Which Is Earth’s Shadow, Hinshaw Music HPO3008, by Ellen Harrison
1990 AGO/Holtkamp Award—A Practical Progam for Monks, by Frank Ferko
1988 AGO/Holtkamp Award—Variations for Organ and Percussion, by Martin Matalon
1986 AGO/Holtkamp Award—Perceptions of Antiquity, Hinshaw Music HMO153, by Timothy Kramer
1984 AGO/Hotkamp Award—What Seraphs Are Afoot, Hinshaw Music HMO148, by Ingrid Arauco
Committee on New Music
Louise Mundinger, MM, Director Email
David J. Hurd, Jr., MusD Email
Carol Feather Martin, MM Email
Alexander Meszler, MM Email
Eileen Hunt, AAGO, DMA, ex officio (Vice President/Councillor for Competitions and New Music) Email
AGO Headquarters Email
