Rodgers Institutes Organ Performance Competition

Rodgers Instruments Corporation in partnership with Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is pleased to inaugurate the North American Classical Organ Competition, which will be held in 2011.

Offering cash prizes for the top three finishers, the competition will culminate in a public performance by the six finalists at the university in Kutztown, PA on May 10, 2011. The prizes will be $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place.

Dr. Ina Grapenthin, professor of music at Kutztown, will direct the competition with the assistance of a panel of prominent organists as judges.

Rodgers is establishing the organ performance competition for the purpose of encouraging the development of young organists in North America. Applicants must reside in North America, and be aged 35 or younger as of the beginning of March 2011.

The deadline to enter the competition is March 1, 2011. Each entry must be accompanied by a performance recording of three pieces on CD or cassette tape. Two are mandatory - Toccata from Toccata, Adagio and Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach, and Sonata II, First Movement by Felix Mendelssohn - and the third is to be a selection of the performer's choice, no more than five minutes long.

Based on applicants' submissions, up to eight contestants will be invited to compete at the regional level, with judging held in Los Angeles, California on April 5 and in Baltimore, Maryland on April 8.

Contestants will be assigned practice times the day before each competition. Performances for the final competition will be on Kutztown University's Rodgers Masterpiece Signature Series 356 organ.

The deadline to enter this year's competitition has passed.