Laura Schlappa Wins 10th Northern Ireland International Organ Competition
‘… the standard was simply jaw-dropping,’ says jury chair David Titterington
Laura Schlappa from Cuxhaven in Germany has won 1st Prize in the 10th Northern Ireland International Organ Competition (NIIOC), which took place virtually at the end of November, with an online results ceremony taking place via Zoom on 9 December.
Second place went to Jonas Schauer and third place to Josua Velten, both also from Germany. Joshua Simoes from the UK and Hannes von Bargen from Germany were both highly commended. The Dame Gillian Weir Medal for an outstanding performance of one piece not by Bach went to Ilaria Centorrino from Italy, and the Bach Prize went to another competitor from Germany, Johannes Güdelhüfer.
An international line-up of 15 young players from five countries reached the final of NIIOC 2020. When it became clear that the challenges presented by Covid-19 restrictions meant the organists could not travel to Northern Ireland to perform in person, they were asked to submit video recordings of themselves playing their planned programmes, with the usual specifications, on an organ in a church, concert hall or other venue of their choice.
Laura Schlappa, winner of the competition, is currently studying church music at the University of Music in Detmold with Prof Dr Martin Sander. In 2018 she won first place in the intermediate competition of NIIOC and in 2019 she won the London Organ Competition. For the NIIOC 2020 final she performed the Fugue in D major BWV 532 by J S Bach, the Scherzett No 14 from 24 Pieces in Free Style by Louis Vierne and the Toccata Op. 9 by Jean Guillou. Her programme was recorded in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hildesheim, Germany. She wins £1,500 and recitals at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, London, St. Thomas Fifth Avenue NYC, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Trinity College, Cambridge and St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.
Second prize winner Jonas Schauer is a student of Martin Schmeding and Daniel Beilschmidt at the Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig. He performed works by J S Bach, Sigfrid Karg-Elert and Jean Guillou on the Schulze organ of St Bartholomew’s, Armley in Leeds. He wins £500 and recitals at Stockholm Cathedral Southwark Cathedral, London and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
Third prize winner Josua Velten, from Gießen, played works by J S Bach, Reger and Vito Zuraj in St Nicholas Church, Leipzig. He wins £200 and recitals at Glasgow Cathedral and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Berlin.
Ilaria Centorrino, from Messina, won the Dame Gillian Weir Medal for her performance of Liszt’s Fantasy and Fugue on the name of BACH, transcribed for organ by Jean Guillou, played in the Cathedral of SS Cosmas and Damian in Vairano, Italy. She also receives prize recitals at St Michael’s Cornhill, London and for the Organ Society of the Parish Church of St Lawrence, Alton, Hampshire.
Johannes Güdelhöfer, from Cologne, won the Bach Prize for his performance of the Vivace from J S Bach’s Sonata No 2, recorded in St Nicholas Church, Cologne-Sülz, Germany.
The jury was chaired by David Titterington, Head of Organ at the Royal Academy of Music, London and Artistic Director of the St Alban’s International Organ Festival, partner festival to NIIOC. Commenting on the results, he said:
‘It has been a great privilege to chair this 10th anniversary competition, under what has proven to be the most challenging of circumstances. That the competition has taken place is enormous credit to Richard Yarr, the board of directors and his terrific team. With ingenuity, they have been able to create a digital platform which has enabled the competition to go ahead without in any way compromising the quality and integrity of the performances.
‘We have all had to recalibrate the way in which we communicate and connect as musicians during these long periods of isolation this year, but I am certain what has emerged is something tangibly stronger, more resilient and evidently more empowering, as the jury witnessed in many of the exceptional performances we heard from the shortlisted competitors. The standard was simply jaw-dropping, and the winners will be inspirational ambassadors for future generations of NIIOC competitors.’
‘I am particularly proud of the partnership between the St Albans International Organ Festival and NIIOC and it is deeply satisfying to see how NIIOC over the past decade has grown in prestige and established itself internationally. From the evidence of this year’s competition, the future of organ performance at the highest level is secure and there is much to celebrate.’
Choral conductor, organist, competition patron and regular jury member David Hill said: ‘There hasn't been much to cheer us up in recent months. That was certainly true for me until I started listening to the organists' videos and recordings for NIIOC. What an amazing standard from all the shortlist candidates. Choosing the winners was even more difficult than in previous years. It is a huge testament to NIIOC for managing the competition in these difficult times and to the players for producing some breath-taking playing. What a 10th anniversary celebration!’
The third jury member was Simon Harden, lecturer in organ at TU University, Dublin and Director of Music at Waterford Cathedral. He said: ‘Terrific efforts were made to hold the 10th NIIOC despite the challenges of lockdowns and travel restrictions. The results were a triumph and a tribute to the organisers who had the whole process running like clockwork. There was a very high standard of playing, with performances worthy of any great organ competition. In an era when so many events in the performing world are being cancelled, it was wonderful that this competition took place, giving a platform to young performers and providing them with well-deserved opportunities to advance their careers. Bravi tutti!’
NIIOC Founder and Chair Richard Yarr, Senior Producer, Classical Music at BBC Northern Ireland, said: ‘At the end of such a difficult year, I’m delighted that NIIOC has again been able to celebrate and support the talents of young organists across the globe. The announcement of Laura Schlappa as our 10th winner is a moment of great pride as we consider all that the competition has achieved so far. I would also thank our funders for their continued endorsement.’
The competition is generously supported by Arts Council NI Lottery; Wells Kennedy Organ Partnership; The Pilling Trust; London Organ Competition; Mrs Elizabeth Bicker; Mr John Sarson; Friends of NIIOC.
Having completed its 10th annual edition, NIIOC will not hold a competition in 2021, but there are plans to present anniversary gala recitals by the first ten winners in both Northern Ireland and London, and the organisers very much look forward to being able to welcome the next generation of young organists to Northern Ireland to compete in person in 2022.
Top Photo: Laura Schlappa
Credit: Matthias Klimanek