2014 National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance
Jonathan Rudy
1st Place & Audience Prize
HyeHyun Sung
2nd Place
Kirk Rich
3rd Place
The 2014 Semifinal Round was held in Columbus, Georgia on Thursday, May 22, 2014 on the 2001 Jordan Family Organ at Columbus State University. The three finalists above were chosen to compete at the Final Round at the Harvard Memorial Church in Cambridge, Mass. On June 23, 2014, all three finalists gave inspired performances before an enthusiastic audience of AGO National Convention attendees. Jonathan Rudy received the First Place Prize and the Audience Prize, Hyehyun Sung the Second Place Prize, and Kirk Rich received the Third Place Prize. The judges for the final round were Michael Barone, Diane Meredith Belcher, and Peter Sykes.
Contact information for any of these talented recitalists can be found in the March, 2014 issue of The American Organist. You can also contact AGO Headquarters.
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 (new in 2016)
First Place – The Lilian Murtagh Memorial Prize, funded by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc., Cleveland Ohio; $3,000 cash award, career development assistance from Karen McFarlane Artists Inc. between September 2016 and June 2018, including publicity materials and advertising. The Jordan Prize, funded by the Jordan Organ Endowment, $10,000. The prize will be awarded in conjunction with a Gala Solo Recital on the Jordan Family Organ in Columbus, Georgia. The prize represents the fee for this gala recital. A performance during the 2018 AGO National Convention. A CD recording on the Pro Organo label. A selection of Recital Awards throughout the United States.
Second Place – $5,000, funded by Kegg Pipe Organ Builders, Hartville, Ohio. At least one Recital Award. Four 1/6-page print advertisements in The American Organist (TAO) (design costs not included).
Third Place – $3,000, funded by John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, Champaign, Illinois. At least one Recital Award. Four 1/6-page print advertisements in The American Organist (TAO) (design costs not included).
Audience Prize – $1,000, funded by Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company Inc., St. Louis, Missouri.
The NYACOP Committee encourages all eligible organists to seek ever-higher levels of excellence by competing in the 2014 cycle. Repertoire for the 2014 round is posted below. The Official Rules and application form appeared in the September 2012 issue of The American Organist Magazine.
Listen to the 2012 NYACOP winner, Daryl Robinson .
NYACOP Prize Winners Chart
NYACOP Committee
Jay Peterson, DMA, SPC – Director petersonjc1@msn.com
Michael Unger michaelunger@hotmail.com
Chelsea Chen info@chelseachen.com
