5 participants through to the next round of the International Organ Festival Haarlem improvisation competition

On Monday, July 15, 2024, during the first round of the Improvisation Competition in the Mennonite Church, 5 participants were selected for the next round. Three participants lost weight: Erik Jan Eradus (NL) Bernhard Hauk (D) and David Kiefer (D). Continuing Enno Gröhn (D), Raphaël Oliver (F), David Stultz (US), Sebastian Benetello (D) and Marcel Eliasch (D).

These organists will compete on Wednesday, July 17, for the second round of the competition on the Adema organ in the Joseph Church in Haarlem. This is a very different organ than in the Mennonite church, which forces the participants to approach the assignments very differently.

Oene van Geel
What is special is that violinist Oene van Geel will be there as a 'special guest' and with whom the participants will improvise a piece of music together. Furthermore, an improvisation assignment that touches several senses and has never been given in a competition before! The jury of the International Improvisation Competition in 2024 consists of: Jean-Baptiste Robin (F), Berry van Berkum (NL), Zsigmond Szathmáry (H/D) , Maria Alejandra Castro Espejo (Peru/NL), Monika Melcová (SK/ES) and Ansgar Wallenhorst (D, chairman). The final is on Friday, July 19 in the Grote or St. Bavokerk.

Pricing
There are three prizes to be won: a jury prize (€5.000, made available by the Piet Kee Foundation), an audience prize (€1.000) and a prize for the best improvisation of the competition (€500). In addition to the cash prize, the winner of the jury prize will also receive an original pen drawing of the Bavo organ and will be offered a series of concerts around the world.