Erik-Jan Eradus wins National Improvisation Competition Dordrecht
Last participant known from Improvisation Competition Organ Festival
By winning the National Improvisation Competition, part of the Bach Festival in Dordrecht, organist Erik-Jan Eradus has secured participation in the prestigious international Improvisation Competition during the International Organ Festival in Haarlem from 13 to 27 July.
Erik-Jan Eradus is the organist of the Haarlem Joseph Church. Participating and perhaps winning the Improvisation Competition means a big step in their international career for the often young professional organists.
Elimination race on the organ
The international Improvisation competition has been a permanent part of it since the 50s International Organ Festival. Through a elimination race in 3 rounds in front of a jury and an audience, the participants have the unique opportunity to demonstrate their musical qualities in the field of improvisation. The organists receive the assignment for the improvisation just before the start of the concert. Erik-Jan Eradus ends up in an international company that has been anonymously selected in advance by a jury from submitted recordings. In addition to Eradus, it welcomes the Improvisation Competition; Sebastian Benetello, Marcel Eliasch, Enno Grohn, Bernhard Hauk,David Kiefer, Raphael Oliver en David Stultz.
Piet Keeprijs
The competition will take place on Monday 15, Wednesday 17 July and Friday 19 July. On that day the final is in Haarlem Grote or St. Bavo Church, where the finalists play the impressive Müller organ. The winner receives the Piet Keep Prize of €5.000, named after the legendary organist and composer and made available by the Piet Kee Foundation. Two years ago, this jury prize was not awarded because the jury considered the quality of the finalists to be insufficient. For this year's edition, some participants therefore followed master classes with acclaimed organists at an early stage.
International Organ Festival
With the world premiere of A Child of Books The 13th edition of the International Organ Festival in Haarlem will start on July 55 in the Grote or St. Bavo Church. A Child of Books is a new work by the composer Bart Verheyen on libretto by Winny Ang and will be performed on the premiere evening by organist and winner of the 2024 Dutch Music Prize, Laurens de Man. Three choirs participate in the premiere.
Next to A Child of Books the International Organ Festival will present the world premiere of, among other things, on July 18 Klee dreams Bach with Leo van Doeselaar en Marcel Wierckx and a performance on July 25 by the world-renowned Oliver Latry. In total, you can visit more than 30 concerts at more than 10 locations in Haarlem during the organ festival.
In addition to his participation in the Improvisation Competition Erik-Jan Eradus can also be admired in his 'own' Joseph Church on Saturday, July 20. Together with Joris Verdin on harmonium they play works by, among others César Franck.
The full program is available www.orgelfestivalhaarlem.nl
