11th edition
International Organ Competition of Saint-Maurice
August 7 to 13, 2023
Playoff on video:
Free program of 15 min maximum including the last movement of one of the 6 trio sonatas by Johann Sebastian Bach
Application deadline: May 31, 2023
1/4 finals: Monday, August 7 at the Saint-Sigismond church, Saint-Maurice
- Johann Sebastian Bach : 2nd and 3rd movement of one of the 6 trio sonatas BWV 525-530
- Johannes Brahms: Prelude and Fugue in A minor
1/2 final: Thursday, August 10 at Saint-Martin de Vevey
- Charles-Marie Widor: Andante sostenuto from the Gothic symphony op.70
- Olivier Messiaen: Transports de joie d’une âme devant la gloire du Christ qui est la sienne (Transports of joy of a soul before the glory of Christ which is its own) from the Ascension or Marcel Dupré Symphonie passion: Le Monde dans l’attente du sauveur (The world awaiting the savior)
Final: Sunday, August 13 at the Cathedral of Lausanne
- Gaston Litaize: Cortège for three trumpets, three trombones and organ
- Max Reger: Benedictus opus 59 n°9
- Ermend Bonnal: Bells in the sky from the Basque landscapes
- Thomas Kientz: Dominus Illuminatio mea, Schola Cantorum edition
In collaboration with the Société des Concerts de la Cathédrale de Lausanne (SCCL)
Rules
- The Competition is open to young organists of all nationalities, age limit: 35 (1987).
- All rounds are public. The competition is held on an anonymous basis, the jury not seeing the candidates.
- The selection through the videos will be carried out by three members of the jury. Listening to the videos will be systematically interrupted after a maximum of 15 minutes. The pieces of music from the playoffs can be recorded on different organs at different times. However, for each piece the recording must be made in one single shot, without cutting or editing, as in a concert in front of an audience.
- Through their participation in the Competition, the candidates give their authorization to be filmed (audio and video) and photographed during the Competition rounds, the concerts given by the 1st Prize winner and the Awards ceremony. They agree that the images made by the Competition photographers may also be used by third parties.
The candidates will transfer free of charge to the Fondation Georges Cramer, sponsor of the Competition:- the right to record, archive, reproduce, have reproduced and distribute their performances at the Competition and the concerts, including images on disk or any other medium existing for the moment or in the future, including in digital format, as well as,
- the right to communicate and broadcast their performances to the public by any televised or radio equipment or system, including by Internet, cable network, via radio or other means, live or pre-recorded, in linear or on-demand mode, with or without free or paying downloads, in Switzerland and abroad.
- The transfer mentioned in Section 4) above includes all the performances given during the Competition as well as the performances given by the 1st Prize winner during the Competition, the concerts, and the Award ceremony. The transfer is for the entire duration of copyrights and other related rights according to the laws in force at present and in the future.
- In addition to the completed application form, the candidates will send :
- a Curriculum Vitae;
- a photograph (portrait);
- a copy of passport or identity card;
- a copy of an organ diploma (Bachelor, Master…).
- A non-refundable registration fee of 100 CHF must be paid before May 31, 2023 to the account of Banque Cantonale du Valais, Av. de la Gare 20, CH-1920 Martigny.
- Account Holder: Abbaye de Saint-Maurice
- Account Number: 0C0.100.58.47
- IBAN: CH69 0076 5000 C010 0584 7
- SWIFT/BIC : BCVSCH2LXXX
The registration will only be final after receipt of the transfer. - For the finale: Cortège by Gaston Litaize will be played on the great organ of the Cathedral with the 6 other players without conductor. During the rehearsal, the organist will be alone with the brass players and will propose his interpretation, tempos, phrasing, articulations…
The brass sextet will play on the edition : SCHOLA CANTORUM
- The management of the combinator is the responsibility of the candidates during the competition. A page-turner will be made available during the competition.
- The title “Laureate of the International Organ Competition of Saint-Maurice 2023” may be used by the three finalists.
The organs
Saint-Sigismond Church, Saint-Maurice
Kuhn organ, 2001
2 keyboards, 25 stops, mechanical traction
Saint-Martin Church, Vevey
Orgue Kuhn, 1954
3 keyboards, 48 stops, mechanical traction
Orgedetails – Orgelbau Kuhn AG
Cathedral, Lausanne
Organ Fisk, 2003
5 keyboards, 98 stops, mechanical traction
Mobile console with electric drive
Working organs may be used during the competition, according to an established schedule.
The prices
- The First Prize of 10,000 is the prize of the State of Valais, awarded by the Council of Culture.
- The Second Prize of 6’000 Swiss francs is the prize of the City of Saint-Maurice.
- The Third Prize of 4,000 Swiss francs.
- The Audience Prize of 1’000 Swiss francs
Concerts offered to the winners
- Saint-Maurice, Basilica
- Lausanne, Church of St. Francis
- Fribourg, Saint-Nicolas Cathedral
- Neuchâtel, Collegiate Church
- Geneva, Geneva Cathedral
- Aarau, Stadtkirche
- Jura, Saignelégier
Jury
Richard Dubugnon
Swiss
Composer
Jury
The jury makes its decisions blind (without knowing the names of the candidates). The jury’s decisions are final.
Pre-selection Jury
Travel and accommodation costs
The travel costs are the responsibility of the candidates. The Competition can provide a room in a home free of charge. Candidates can also stay in a hotel, but at their own expense. The costs of meals and drinks are the responsibility of the candidates.
Registration deadline
May 31, 2023
The results of the pre-selection test will be communicated to candidates at the end of June 2023.