Music

NC Organ Festival & Competition

Competition weekend: January 27-29, 2023
Applications close: January 3, 2023

Kenan Associate Professor of Organ Timothy Olsen, the UNCSA & Salem College Organ Studio, and the Piedmont NC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists invite you to the 2023 North Carolina Middle and High School Organ Festival & Competition.

The competition will take place on Saturday, January 28. Workshops, lectures and master classes will occur on Friday, January 27 and Sunday, January 29. For a full schedule, see below.

In addition to participating in the Competition, guest middle and high school organists will be able to meet other organists their age from around the country, tour the UNCSA & Salem College organ facilities, hear UNCSA & Salem College keyboard faculty perform in a recital, participate in workshops, masterclasses, lessons, as well as build a small functioning pipe organ!

Workshops will feature keyboard pedagogue Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor Susan Perkins, as well as UNCSA Kenan Professor of Organ, Dr. Timothy Olsen.

For additional information about the Festival, please contact Dr. Timothy Olsen.

Festival & Competition Registration

The application is open until January 3, 2023. Detailed competition rules and guidelines are available via PDF.

Download Competition Hymns HERE

New this year: in the competition, there will be both an Intermediate Division ($50 entry fee) and an Advanced Division ($75 entry fee). To complete the entry process, please submit the registration form and associated entry fee (payable after form submission).

Schedule

Tuesday, January 3, 2023	Online application, recording links, letters of recommendation and application fee are due.
Monday, January 9, 2023	Up to six (6) Advanced Division finalists and up to ten (10) Intermediate Division finalists will be notified for performance at the 2023 Competition. Those not selected will still be able to participate in workshops and masterclasses.
Friday, January 27, 2023	8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Elberson Fine Arts Center, Salem College Practice time for each competitor (Intermediate Division – Shirley Recital Hall; Advanced Division – Hanes Auditorium) At various times throughout the day – workshops for all competitors, including Good Practice Habits, Introduction to the Harpsichord, and participants will build a fully functioning pipe organ! Dinner on own 7:30 p.m. Shirley Recital Hall, Elberson Fine Arts Center, Salem College Recital by Salem College Keyboard Faculty
Saturday, January 28, 2023	8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Elberson Fine Arts Center, Salem College Competition, including warm-up times (Intermediate Division – Shirley Recital Hall; Advanced Division – Hanes Auditorium) 4 p.m. tent. Elberson Fine Arts Center, Salem College Winners Recital and Prizes Presentation 6 p.m. Festival Dinner for participants and guests Location TBD 7 p.m. Crawford Hall, Gray Building, UNCSA Tour of UNCSA Organ Facilities and Open Console on C.B. Fisk, Op. 75
Sunday, January 29, 2023	8:30-10 a.m. Crawford Hall, UNCSA Available 30-minute individual lesson times with Dr. Olsen (optional) 10 a.m. Crawford Hall, UNCSA Workshop: Alexander Technique, Injury-Preventative Keyboard Technique with Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink and Susan Perkins 12 p.m. Location TBD Boxed lunch - provided for student participants 12:30 p.m. Crawford Hall, UNCSA Master class with Dr. Olsen 2:30 p.m. Crawford Hall, UNCSA Available 30-minute individual lesson times with Dr. Olsen (optional)

This event is co-sponsored by UNCSA, Salem College and the Piedmont NC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

2023 NC Organ Festival & Competition

NC Organ Festival & Competition

Festival & Competition Registration

Schedule