Canadian International Organ Competition Semi-Final Rounds start October 14th

The semi-finalists:

Bryan Anderson (USA) completed his Master’s in organ performance at Rice University in 2018, studying with Ken Cowan. He is currently Director of Music at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Houston, TX.

2nd Prize, Winner of the Firmin Swinnen at the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition (2019)

Ben Bloor (UK) received his music degree with First Class Honours from Oxford, and is currently the organist of the London Oratory Church.

First Prize, Northern Ireland International Organ Competition (2012)
Second Prize, Boston Bach International Organ Competition (2018)
Prize-winning fellow of the Royal College of Organists (2013)

Tyler Boehmer (Canada) is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Kansas, and is the Director of Music at Leavenworth First United Methodist Church. He has future plans to become a university professor.

1st Prize, Miami International Organ Competition (2019)
2nd Prize, Sydney International Organ Competition (2018)
3rd Prize, Shanghai International Organ Competition (2019)
Diploma prize at the Tariverdiev International Organ Competition (2017)

Hina Ikawa (Japan) holds a master’s degree from the Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse, and completed her Konzertexamen at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg.

1st Prize, Cavaille-Coll International Organ Competition (2016)
1st Audience Prize, Cavaille-Coll International Organ Competition (2016)
Audience Prize, Jean-Louis Florentz International Organ Competition (2016)
Contemporary Prize at the Gaston Litaize International Organ Competition (2017)

Alex Little (UK) is a doctoral student at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, studying with David Higgs. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Merton College, Oxford, where he was organ scholar then assistant organist. He is currently assistant organist at Christ Church Episcopal, Rochester.

3rd Prize, Northern Ireland International Organ Competition (2018)
Bach Prize at the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition (2018)

Andrew Morris (USA) is pursuing a Masters in Organ Performance under James Higdon at the University of Kansas. He is the organist at the Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

3rd Prize, Tariverdiev International Organ Competition (2019)

Seona Mun (South Korea) is pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Detmold Hochschule für Musik in Germany, under Prof. Dr. Martin Sander.

1st Prize, Second Organ Competition of The Korean Association of Organists (2012)
1st Prize, Fourth Kikmin Ilbo & Youngsan Art Hall Organ Competition (2011)

Tom Rioult (France) is co-titular organist at the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre in Lisieux, where he also teaches organ at the conservatory.

1st Prize, Kurt Bossler International Organ Competition (2016)
2nd Prize, St. Alban’s International Organ Competition (2017)
2nd Prize, Northern Ireland International Organ Competition (2017)

Anastasia Stahl (Russia) studied music at a variety of institutions, most recently the Basel Academy of Music in Switzerland. She performs regularly as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician throughout Europe.

1st Prize, International Organ Competition in Dudelange (2019)
2nd Prize, Shanghai International Organ Competition (2019)
3rd Prize, Petr Eben Organ Competition (2018)

Aaron Tan (Canada / Philippines) is currently studying at the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University, and is the Organ Scholar at the Church of the Resurrection, New York City. He also holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Michigan.

1st Prize, AGO National Young Artists competition (2018)

Semi-Finals

The Semi-Final Round, Part 1 will take place at the Église de l’Immaculée-Conception, on October 14th and 15th. Part 2 will take place at the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, on October 18th and 19th.

The Final Round

The final round of the 5th edition of the renowned Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) will take place at the Maison symphonique, on October 22, 2021. On the program: works spanning the Baroque period to music of today. In this crucial round, candidates will include in their programs a selected piece by Marcel Dupré. To mark the 50th anniversary of the death of this eminent composer, performer and improviser (1886–1971), the special Marcel Dupré Prize will be awarded to the candidate who offers the most accomplished performance of this piece. OSM Organist-in Residence Jean-Willy Kunz will serve as Artistic Director of the Competition.

To learn more about these events, and purchase tickets to the final round, visit: www.ciocm.org