Enno Gröhn wins 55th edition of the Organ Improvisation Competition Haarlem
Last Friday evening, July 19, the International Improvisation Competition was held in the Grote or St. Bavo Church won by Enno Gröhn from Germany. The three finalists Raphaël Oliver (France), Marcel Eliasch and Enno Gröhn (both from Germany) were given two improvisation assignments on the famous Christian Müller organ. The jury praised the level of the improvisations.
Special tests
The three finalists were given the two assignments an hour before the start of the concert, for which they had to prepare without being able to use a musical instrument. One of the assignments was an improvisation as a continuation of a played sound fragment of a Japanese flute, the shakuhachi (Kokû Vacuité). This was followed by a diptych on two of the four elements Earth, Fire, Air and Water, where the participant had to design their own thematic material related to these elements.
The international jury, consisting of Jean-Baptiste Robin (F), Berry van Berkum (NL), Zsigmond Scathmáry (H/D), Maria Alejandra Castro Espejo (Peru/NL), Monica Melcova (SK/ES) chaired by Ansgar Wallenhorst (D) awarded the Piet Kee Prize of €5.000 to Enno Gröhn this evening. This jury prize paves the way to a glittering organ career. The audience prize of €1.000 was also awarded to Enno Gröhn. The best improvisation of the entire competition was the duo improvisation played by Marcel Eliasch and improvising violinist Oene van Geel. They were heard in the second round of the competition in the Joseph Church. Marcel Eliasch won the prize for the best improvisation of the competition worth €500.
Jury praises the level of finalists in the improvisation competition
Jury chairman Ansgar Wallenhorst: “The jury is very satisfied with the level of the three candidates. That is a lot higher than the previous competition 2 years ago. And this year the interesting assignments gave both freedom and responsibility to the young organists. It is important for the jury to hear how they develop their own ideas and impress with the structure they create from a rich musical inner life. The winner in the Final was convincing in the way he responded to the shakuhachi fragment and in his powerful and reflective expression of the two elements.”
Organ Festival until Saturday 27 July
The Haarlem Organ Festival will run until next Saturday, July 27, 2024, with various concerts. Organist Olivier Latry will be our guest on Thursday, July 25. Latry is currently one of the most sought-after organists in the world. He is the regular player of the majestic organ in Notre-Dame in Paris and gives a unique solo 'celebrity recital' in Haarlem on the monumental Müller organ in the Bavokerk.
The complete program is here
