Education & Community

Organ Improvisation Competition

Spivey Hall’s Organ Improvisation Competition is open to all organists under the age of 30. Applicants who do not reside in the United States are responsible for understanding and complying with U.S. visa requirements, as well as managing travel costs where applicable. February 1, 2027: Application Deadline

COMPETITION APPLICATION

Each competitor will complete the official online application form and submit it along with the application fee of $75.

The application round is evaluated by three judges in strict anonymity. No judge may be the current teacher of any applicant. The final round will be evaluated by a panel of three judges.  Judges may not be a current teacher of a competitor.

Three (3) finalists will be chosen to compete in person in Spivey Hall on Saturday, May 1, 2027.

Prizes

1st Prize: $3,000
2nd Prize: $2,000
3rd Prize: $1,000

Important Dates

Feb 1, 2027:  Application Deadline
Mar 1, 2027: Finalists Announced
Apr 28, 2027: Finalists Arrive in Atlanta, GA
May 1, 2027: Spivey Hall Organ Improvisation Competition

How to Apply

Application Steps:

Step 1: Create a Cloud-based folder (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or similar) and generate an associated link. Please use this format to name your folder: [Last name, First name]_SHOIC2027

Step 2: Complete this online application form and include the link to your cloud-based folder.

Step 3: Make Payment. A payment link will be emailed to you upon completion of this form.

Step 4: Upload your files (music files, JPG of your photograph, and PDFs of the following: a letter of recommendation from a music professional and your bio. These do not all need to be available at the time you submit your application but must be uploaded by February 26, 2027.

Required Files

• Video file #1:
  • Your choice of repertoire that best demonstrates your technical and interpretive abilities.
  • Video specs: 5 minutes max,  no cuts or edits. Delivered as an MP4 or MOV file.
• Video file #2:
  • Your improvisation on the theme of To Be Assigned to Applicants in February.
  • Video specs: 10 minutes max,  no cuts or edits. Delivered as an MP4 or MOV file.
• A 150-word max biography (PDF)
• A color, high-resolution photo from the shoulders up. (JPG or PNG)

Please contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

Study Guides

Study guides for Spivey Hall Education concerts are correlated to *curriculum standards with a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) focus allowing teachers to directly apply these concert experiences to classroom objectives.

ACCESS STUDY GUIDES HERE

[email protected]