The final round of the Seventh Miami International Organ Competition, sponsored by Fratelli Ruffatti and the Church of the Epiphany, was held at the Church of the Epiphany, Miami, Florida, on February 28. Three finalists each played a 25-minute program on the 61-rank Ruffatti organ for the large, enthusiastic audience.
First prize ($5,000) as well as the audience prize ($500) was awarded to Alcee Chriss III, an undergraduate student of James David Christie at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Thomas Gaynor, a master’s student of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music, received second prize ($2,500). Third prize ($1,500) went to Christopher Keenan, who is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Texas, Austin, studying with Matthias Maierhofer.
Nearly forty applicants from thirteen countries and five continents submitted recordings for the competition. Judges for the preliminary round were Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, Jacques van Oortmerssen, and Peter Sykes. Judging the final round were Nicole Marane, associate director of music at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia; Grzegorz Nowak, principal associate conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London, U.K.; and Christophe Mantoux, professor of organ at the Pöle supérieur and Conservatoire Régional de Paris.
Shown in the photo: Michael Barone, host of Pipedreams; Nicole Marane; Alcee Chriss III, Christopher Keenan; Thomas Gaynor; Grzegorz Nowak; Christophe Mantoux; competition coordinator Thomas Schuster
The Eighth Miami International Organ Competition will take place in early 2016.
For information: www.ruffatti.com/mioc.html.
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