2021 National Organ Playing Competition ResultsThere was an extremely high level of playing in this year's Competition and we are so pleased to announce: 1st: Manuel Piazza - Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Prize
2nd: Tyler Boehmer - Paul Murray Prize
3rd: Samuel Lee - Muriel Gidley Stafford Prize Please see biographies below. Résultats du Concours national 2021Le niveau était extrêmement élevé cette année, et nous avons le plaisir d’annoncer les résultats suivants : 1er : Manuel Piazza – Prix commémoratif Godfrey Hewitt 2e : Tyler Boehmer – Prix Paul Murray 3e : Samuel Lee – Prix Muriel Gidley Stafford Voir plus bas pour les biographies. We acknowledge and sincerely thank the donors of the three prizes, and we are deeply grateful to the many generous donors of the National Organ Playing Competition Fundraiser who helped to make this year's competition possible. We are thrilled to have reached our fundraising goal for this unique competition that took place both on site and virtually. We would like to thank the five jurors for the semi-final and final rounds: Michael Bloss, Isabelle Demers, David Enlow, John Laing and Patricia Wright. Special thanks also to John Laing for composing the required piece for the final round: Our Hope for a Better Tomorrow: Fantasia for Organ. Please click here to read the composer's note on this work and view an excerpt of the piece. We are grateful to the Ancaster Canadian Reformed Church and Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton for the use of their instruments and facilities for this Competition as well as the organists and churches who provided practice time and to Patrick Carter for driving the competitors to venues. Thanks are also due to the video team under the direction of Adrian Foster; to the Organ Festival Canada Steering Committee; Zachary Windus who liaised so wonderfully with the committee and worked overtime; and to the members of the Competition Committee: Co-Chairs Marnie Giesbrecht and Joachim Segger, Thomas Leslie, David Simon and Zachary Windus. Nous tenons à exprimer notre sincère reconnaissance et gratitude envers les donateurs de ces trois prix, et à remercier chaleureusement les nombreux et généreux donateurs de la collecte de fonds du Concours national, qui ont contribué à rendre possible le concours de cette année. Nous sommes ravis d’avoir atteint nos objectifs de collecte de fonds pour cette édition unique du concours qui s’est tenu à la fois sur place et en ligne. Nous souhaitons remercier nos cinq jurys pour la demi-finale et la finale : Michael Bloss, Isabelle Demers, David Enlow, John Laing et Patricia Wright. Nous remercions particulièrement John Laing pour la composition de la pièce imposée de la finale : Our Hope for a Better Tomorrow: Fantasia for Organ. Cliquer ici pour lire la note du compositeur sur sa pièce et voir un extrait de la partition. Nous sommes reconnaissants envers la Ancaster Canadian Reformed Church et la Central Presbyterian Church de Hamilton pour nous avoir permis d’utiliser leurs instruments et leurs locaux pendant cette édition du concours, ainsi qu’envers les organistes et les églises ayant permis aux candidats de s’exercer, et envers Patrick Carter, qui a conduit les candidats à leur lieu de concours. Nous souhaitons également remercier l’équipe vidéo sous la direction d’Adrian Foster ; le Comité de pilotage du Festival d’orgue du Canada ; Zachary Windus qui a assuré une merveilleuse liaison avec le comité et a fait de nombreuses heures supplémentaires ; et les membres du Comité du concours : les Co-présidents Marnie Giesbrecht et Joachim Segger, Thomas Leslie, David Simon et Zachary Windus.
Boehmer has quickly begun to distinguish himself as a rising star. Recent solo performances have taken him to five cities throughout Russia, the Washington National Cathedral, and the 2016 AGO Houston Convention, as well as cities throughout Germany and the western United States. He has also been active in many national and international competitions. Recent accolades include first prize in the 2019 Miami International Organ Competition, third prize at the 2019 Shanghai International Organ Competition, second prize in the 2018 Sydney International Organ Competition, and the diploma prize in the 2017 Tariverdiev International Organ Competition. In addition, he has also competed as a quarter-finalist in the 2019 Rheinberger International Organ Competition (chosen from more than 100 applicants), the 2019 St. Albans International Organ Competition, the 2018 Grand Prix de Chartres International Organ Competition, and the 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition. He continues to set a high standard of excellence in his performances, and has been described as “consistently good and expressive” (John Karl Hirten, MM), and “accurate, musical, controlled, with good attention to detail” (Dr. John Longhurst, Tabernacle Organist Emeritus). Until September 2020, Boehmer also worked as the Director of Music for Leavenworth First United Methodist Church, where he rehearsed and conducted the Sanctuary Choir and the three handbell ensembles. In the future, he plans to become a university professor.
| In this section |
2019
1st - David Simon
2nd - Jocelyn Lafond
3rd - Alexander Ross
2017
1st - Jason Biel
2nd - Helen Tucker
3rd - Emmanuel Bernier
2015
1st - Stephen Boda
2nd - Helen Tucker
3rd - Sarah Svendsen
2013
1st - Shawn Potter
2nd - Rachel Mahon
3rd - Stephen Boda
2011
1st - Aaron James
2nd - Sarah Svendsen
3rd - Stephen Boda
2009
1st - Aaron Tan
2nd - Matthew Coons
3rd - Kevin Dill
2007
1st - Ryan Enright
2nd - Aaron Tan
3rd - Philip Chow
2005
1st - Ryan Jackson
2nd - Ryan Enright
3rd - Isabelle Demers
2003
1st - Andrew Henderson
2nd - Gary Tong
3rd - Geoff Ward
2017
1er - Jason Biel
2e - Helen Tucker
3e - Emmanuel Bernier
2015
1er - Stephen Boda
2e - Helen Tucker
3e - Sarah Svendsen
2013
1er - Shawn Potter
2e - Rachel Mahon
3e - Stephen Boda
2011
1er - Aaron James
2e - Sarah Svendsen
3e - Stephen Boda
2009
1er - Aaron Tan
2e - Matthew Coons
3e - Kevin Dill
2007
1er - Ryan Enright
2e - Aaron Tan
3e - Philip Chow
2005
1er - Ryan Jackson
2e - Ryan Enright
3e - Isabelle Demers
2003
1er - Andrew Henderson
2e - Gary Tong
3e - Geoff Ward