Summer Institute of Church Music
Osborne Organ Competition
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 The Osborne Organ Competition is held every two years in even years in support of advanced study in organ or church music by young Canadian organists. The next competition will be in 2012.
Eligibility for the Osborne Organ Competition

Applicants must be Canadian citizens under the age of 30 on January 1st of the competition year and must never have received first prize in any previous Osborne Organ Competition.

Semi-Final Round (Recorded)

The competition director must receive the following materials from applicants by April 15th of competition year. The address to which the materials are to be sent is specified on the application form.

  1. completed application form, which includes:
    1. signed statement of the accuracy of information, the authenticity of the submitted recording, and that funds awarded will be used towards a specified study plan within twelve months of the final competition round.
    2. study plan in organ and/or church music understood to consume the major part of the applicant’s time in the coming year.
    3. proof of age and Canadian citizenship (birth certificate preferred, photocopies welcome)
    4. good-quality CD recording of a major work of J.S. Bach: either a fugue and its accompanying prelude, toccata or passacaglia, or any two movements one of the six Trio Sonatas. Recording and its packaging must contain no speaking or other means of identifying the applicant. No editing/splicing is permitted except between movements.
  2. letter of authenticity, along with contact information, from a teacher or other second responsible party confirming that the recording is the unedited work of the applicant.
  3. non-refundable fee of $30.00 (cheque made out to Summer Institute of Church Music)

sample application form

Final Round (Live Competition)
  1. From those successful in the semi-final round selection, up to four finalists will be chosen by April 15th in the competition year to compete in the Final Round Competition on the Tuesday evening of the Summer Institute of Church Music week.
  2. Finalists will be notified by April 30th, and provided with the specifications of the organ of St. George’s Church, Oshawa, the location of the final round competition.
  3. The competition program will consist of:
    1. J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in A major, BWV 536 (any edition)
    2. a Canadian organ composition of difficulty comparable to Grade 10 or ARCT (RCM Toronto)
    3. leading the singing of a hymn (all verses) by the recital audience (For the 2010 competition, the hymn was Exultant we Gather (Fairbank/Bauchman), tune: Viviane)
  4. Upon notification of finalist status, and by June 1st at the latest, competitors will:
    1. accept or decline the invitation to participate in the final round
    2. provide a photograph and one-paragraph biography for publication
    3. provide the title(s), and three temporary copies of any “own-choice” selection(s) for the final round program
    4. provide an up-to-date resumé, including all past professional and educational contacts. This information will be used in assembling an impartial jury for the final round of competition. It will NOT be used in the selection of finalists; no one referred to will be contacted by SICM, and no information will be published.
    5. provide an estimate of expenses to travel and participate in the final round. A portion of this may be covered by the Institute at the discretion of the Board of Governors.
  5. Each finalist will be provided with three hours of practice time on the competition organ in the week of the final round competition.
  6. The candidate alone will be responsible for registration, but a page-turner will be provided if needed.
  7. If and how prizes are to be awarded is decided by a jury of three adjudicators, chaired by the visiting organ instructor of the session of the Summer Institute of Church Music of the competition year.
  8. The decision of the jury is final.
Awards
  1. First prize in the Osborne Organ Competition is $1500; second prize is $750.
  2. The jury may choose to apportion the awards between competitors if it sees fit. The jury also may withhold prizes if it feels that adequate standards are not achieved.
  3. Winners will receive their prizes at the beginning of their study period following the competition.
  4. Funds awarded must be used for advanced study in organ or church music.
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