The inaugural Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition drew musicians from around the world to compete for the largest cash award for an organ competition anywhere: the $40,000 Pierre S. du Pont First Prize. Open to organists between the ages of 18 and 30, the Competition began with a qualification round that featured performers from nine different countries. An audition jury comprising six esteemed members of the organ community anonymously evaluated the competitors’ audition recordings and selected 10 of the organ world’s brightest rising stars to compete live before a panel of renowned judges in a quest for the top prize.
2013 Winners
- Benjamin Sheen—Pierre S. du Pont First Prize
- Adam Pajan—Firmin Swinnen Second Prize
- Baptiste-Florian Marle-Ouvard—Clarence Snyder Third Prize
Listen to the program from the 2013 Competition, broadcast on Pipedreams’ “Longwood Laureates”. Michael Barone, host and senior executive producer of Pipedreams, returned to host the 2016 Competition.
Related Blog Post
-
A Chat with Benjamin Sheen
A Chat with Benjamin Sheen
Before the competitors arrive here at our Gardens, they must first design their repertoire according to our guidelines.
-
This 24-year-old London native won the 2013 inaugural competition and the $40,000 Pierre S. du Pont first prize.