The Pogorzelski-Yankee Annual Competition owes its existence to the generosity of two individuals, Ronald G. Pogorzelski and Lester D. Yankee. 2024 Guidelines. The annual competition calls for a new work composed for and performed on their R. J. Brunner & Company tracker house organ shown here in its former music room setting. The organ is now located at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. See the specifications (N.B. on the Great division, the Gemshorn 8′ has been replaced by the Principal 8′.)
Award: $10,000 cash prize; premiere performance on the Ronald G. Pogorzelski and Lester D. Yankee Organ at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, usually in the spring of each year.
Application for the 2024 Pogorzelski-Yankee award
Rachel Laurin has been named the 2023 Pogorzelski-Yankee awarded composer. Her piece, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, will be premiered at Indiana University of Pennsylvania later this year. She leads a dual international career as a concert organist and a very prolific composer. She has performed organ recitals in major cities in Canada, the United States, and Europe, and has made more than twelve recordings, including two CDs devoted to her own compositions.
Aaron David Miller composed Oceanic Vision for the 2021 Pogorzelski-Yankee annual award. The premiere performance had been planned for an event earlier this year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was performed July 1, 2021 on the AGO OrganFest 2021. Oceanic Vision is a programmatic work depicting three impressions of the ocean environment: waves, sea life, and the horizon. The musical material is derived from the letters of each entitled section producing musical themes. Purchase Oceanic Vision.
Oceanic Vision from OrganFest 2021
Past Performances
2021 Composer, Aaron David Miller – Oceanic Vision
2020 Composer, Henry Martin – It’s About Time
2019 Composer, Frederick Hohman – Listen to The Organ Icons and a discussion with Frederick Hohman.
2018 Composer, Chris LaRosa – Listen to Monument and discussion with Dr. LaRosa.
Listen to Monument in an orchestral version!
2017 Composer, Christopher Adler – Listen to Construct: for organ and a discussion with Professor Adler.
2016 Composer, Claude Baker – Listen to Sept Hommages and a half-hour interview with Dr. John Levey.
Committee on New Music
Louise Mundinger, MM, Director Email
David J. Hurd, Jr., MusD Email
Carol Feather Martin, MM Email
Alexander Meszler, DMA Email
AGO Headquarters Email
M. Jonathan Ryan, Councillor for Competitions and New Music Email
