The 13th International Schnitger organ competition – Pieter van Dijk & Frank van Wijk

From 21 till 28 June Alkmaar was the center of the Orgel Festival Holland, with the International Schnitger organ competition, the symposium ‘Een betere Schnitger?’, an organ academy, and various concerts by jury members and guests. Forty-five young organists had entered the competition this year. The pre-jury, consisting of Tjeerd van der Ploeg, Frank van Wijk and Pieter van Dijk, selected anonymously the 10 best candidates, who were invited to come to Alkmaar.
The competition had three rounds: the first and last rounds took place in the Grote Kerk, the second in the Kapelkerk. The international jury members were Bernard Foccroulle (B), Bas de Vroome (NL), Wolfgang Zerer (D), Martin Böcker (D), and Krzysztof Urbaniak (PL). They awarded the 1^st prize to Victor Baena; Vittorio Vanini won the 2^nd prize, the Flentrop-prize. Freddie James won the 3^rd prize.