The 29th Annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford

2026 BIENNIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION

ELIGIBILITY

  • The competition is open to organists who have earned a high school/secondary school degree as of January 1, 2026, up through and including young professionals aged 26 as of the date of the live competition.

  • Previous Young Professional first prize-winners are ineligible.

  • Due to the difficulty in obtaining work visas for foreign artists, competitors must hold U.S. citizenship.

PRELIMINARY ROUND

REPERTOIRE

  • The recording must include:

    • A fast trio movement by J.S. Bach, either from the six trio sonatas, Clavier-Übung III, or the Leipzig chorales

    • Andante Sostenuto, from Symphonie Gothique, op. 70, Charles-Marie Widor

    • A contrasting virtuosic work, composed after 1937

RECORDING

  • Works may be recorded on different organs, but must not be edited within the performance of an individual piece. Please submit three individual files, labeled with your name and work title.

  • Competitors are requested to send a PDF scan of the score of their virtuosic choice piece.

JURY

  • To be announced.

FINAL ROUND

  • Up to three finalists will be chosen to compete in-person on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Trinity College, Hartford. Finalists will be notified by August 15, 2026.

  • ASOFH hosts all competitors in hotel accommodations and reimburses travel expenses up to $500.

REPERTOIRE

  • Each finalist will perform a public recital of 45-50 minutes in length, including time between pieces. Repertoire from the preliminary round may not be repeated. In addition to any repertoire of the competitor’s choosing, the program must include each of the following:

    • A significant work by J.S. Bach (for example, a Prelude and Fugue, a Trio Sonata, etc.).

    • One of the Three Chorals by César Franck.

    • A virtuosic work representative of the 20th or 21st century.

    • A work by a woman or BIPOC composer (which may or may not be the virtuosic modern work).

PRIZES

  • David C. Spicer First Prize: $15,000, including a solo recital at ASOFH 2027. The first prize winner will also perform a solo work during this year’s Festival Concerts with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28.

  • Second Prize: $7,500

  • Third Prize: $3,500

  • Audience Prize: $2,000

JURY

To be announced.

QUESTIONS