Welcome to the 2013 St Albans International Organ Competition

From the Artistic Director

The 2013 St Albans International Organ Festival will be a significant event in the life of this world-renowned competition. Fifty years ago, in 1963 Peter Hurford realised his dream by establishing a Festival with two main purposes (and in his own words) “to foster among young English organists a high standard of organ performance through contact with their contemporaries from abroad and with the many internationally distinguished musicians invited to give concerts and judge the competitions; secondly, to encourage the art of improvisation”

Today, those early ambitions have been more than realised as the St Albans International Festival stands secure on the world stage of international competitions whilst many of its former prize-winners have established illustrious careers at the forefront of our profession.

To mark this significant anniversary, a Gold Medal has been specially commissioned to be awarded to all future winners of the Interpretation Competition, whilst the ‘Tournemire Prize’ is being reinstated for the winner of the Improvisation Competition.

This website contains all the information you will need in order to complete your application, whilst our network of international IOF ambassadors will be happy to offer advice and support. Please check here for all the most up-to-date information.

I am always happy to hear from prospective competitors, so please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

A very warm welcome awaits you in St Albans, so do join us for what promises to be a very special festival marking our fiftieth anniversary.

David Titterington

Click here to download a copy of the Competition Prospectus