2026 COMPETITION

Osborne Organ Competition

Osborne Organ Competition

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and enrollees in Canadian post-secondary institutions under the age of 30 who have not previously won First Prize of the Osborne Competition are eligible to apply to compete in the 27th Osborne Organ Competition. Applications consisting of recordings and documentation and a nominal application fee received by the deadline of April 15, 2026 will be considered for advancement to the recorded semi-final round judged in May. Up to three finalists may be invited to advance to the Final Round Competition, held in-person and streamed live from All Saints’ Anglican Church in Whitby between 2:30 and 5:00pm Eastern Time on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The Final Round Jury will be convened by SICM 2026 keyboard instructor and recitalist Dr. Valerie Hall.

Competition History

The Osborne Organ Competition stresses both repertoire performance and the artful and inspiring leadership of congregational song.

Past Winners

View all winners since the competition was first launched in 1972.

HOW TO APPLY

Application Process

Eligibility

Applicant must be under the age of 30 on January 1 of the competition year, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or enrollee in a Canadian post-secondary institution, and must never have won First Prize in any previous Osborne Organ Competition.

All application materials for the Osborne Competition listed below are due on April 15 of the competition year.

  • proof of age and of Canadian Citizenship/Permanent Resident/Enrollee at a Canadian post-secondary institution on January 1.

  • study plan directed towards church musical ministry involving the organ, and understood to occupy the major part of the applicant’s coming year.
  • signed statement of the accuracy of information, the authenticity of the submitted recording, and that any funds awarded will be used towards the specified study plan within twelve months of the Final Competition Round.
  • good-quality recording of a major work of J.S. Bach, selected from BWV 540-550 (excluding 545 and its variants). The recording and its packaging must contain no speaking or other means of identifying the applicant. No editing/splicing is permitted except between movements. Digital submissions are welcome.
  • service plan for Transfiguration/Last Sunday after Epiphany, RCL Year A (Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9): Choice of Prelude, Postlude, and two hymns other than “Jesus on the Mountain Peak” (text: Brian Wren, Tune: MOWSLEY by Cyril Taylor). This liturgical framework, and the hymn above, will form a part of the Final Round Competition.

A completed application form is required along with:

  • 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.
  • Non-refundable fee of $50.00 (cheque payable to Summer Institute of Church Music or e-transfer to treasurer@sicm.ca)

From those successful in the Entrance Round, up to three finalists will be chosen by April 30 to compete in the Final Round Competition. In 2026, this final round will be held on Thursday July 9th, 2:30pm at All Saints’ Anglican Church, Whitby.

The Final Round Competition program will consist of:

  • A Canadian organ composition of difficulty comparable to Level 10 or ARCT (Royal Conservatory of Music)
  • A contrasting composition from another era than that represented in part a) : a Romantic-style choice in a) could be accompanied by either a major Baroque or Classical era work or a more modern work; a more modern selection in a) could be accompanied by a major work from any other era.
  • Leading the audience’s singing of the hymn “Jesus on the Mountain Peak” (text: Brian Wren, Tune: MOWSLEY by Cyril Taylor). This portion of the competition will also require some liturgical improvisation, and the accompaniment of a cantor.

Finalists will be notified by April 30 and provided with the specifications of the final round organ, as well as a copy of the hymn/service playing selections.

Upon notification of finalist status, and by May 15th at the latest, finalists will:

  • Accept or decline the invitation to participate in the final round competition
  • Provide a photograph and one-paragraph biography for publication
  • Provide the title(s), and three temporary copies of their repertoire for the Final Round –All Final Round programs must be approved by the Chair of the Final Round Jury.
  • Provide an up-to-date resumé, including past teachers and colleagues – N.B. This information is used in assembling an impartial jury for the Final Competition round: no one referred to will be contacted by SICM, and no information will be published.

Each finalist will be provided with three hours’ practice time on the competition organ during Institute week. The candidate alone will be responsible for registration, but a page turner will be provided.

Up to $2500 in prize money will be apportioned among the finalists at the discretion of the Jury, whose decisions will be considered final.

Fun Facts

  • Since 1972 the Competition has contributed nearly $60,000 to the education of fine young church musicians in Canada

  • Michael Bloss and Ryan Jackson are the only organists to have both competed in and later, served on the competition jury.

  • Second prize winners are permitted to re-enter subsequent competitions so long as they continue to meet the age and citizenship requirements.

  • In 2012, the 22nd Competition, Francine Nguyen-Savaria and Matthieu Latreille became the only husband/wife pair to compete, against one another, in the competition.  Both were prize winners.