The annual Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition in Organ Playing took place on Friday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Syracuse. Three contestants were invited to peform thirty-minute programs on the basis of their preliminary round recordings. This year’s competition was part of the Syracuse Pipe Organ Festival, a three-day event that also featured a downtown organ crawl, and student and faculty concerts at Syracuse University.

First Prize ($5000, funded by the Syracuse Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and a recital engagement on the historic Holtkamp organ at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music) went to Valentina Qishan Huang, a doctoral student at the Shepherd School of Music of Rice University, studying with Ken Cowan. Valentina also received the most votes for the Will O. Headlee Audience Prize ($500, funded by Don Ingram in memory of Will Headlee, Syracuse University Professor Emeritus of Organ and long-time Poister competition coordinator). Her program included Cantabile from Charles-Marie Widor’s Sixth Organ Symphony, Bach’s Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 530, and the Toccata from Rachel Laurin’s Symphony for Organ, Op. 36. Her winner’s recital will take place in Autumn at Syracuse University.

Second Prize ($3000, funded by the Arthur Poister Endowment Fund of Syracuse University) was awarded to Jennifer Shin, a doctoral student in the studio of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music.

Third Prize ($1500, funded by the Syracuse Chapter of the American Guild of Organists) was awarded to Dale Nickell, organist and associate director of music ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

The judges for the final round were Monica Berney, Director of Music at St. Paul’s Parish, K Street (Washington, D.C.); Bálint Karosi, Cantor at Saint Peter’s Church (New York City); and Jonathan Ryan, Director of Music at Christ Church Cranbrook (Episcopal) in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

We welcome donations to the Poister competition using the “donate” button below .

For more information, send inquiries to:
poistercompetition@gmail.com