The 53d International Improvisation competition in Haarlem

by Geerten Liefting | Photo's: Jan Smelik | Het ORGEL | Year 117 | (2021) | Issue 5

On 21, 23, and 24 July, 2021, the International Improvisation competition in Haarlem took place, 3 years after the previous competition because the competition was cancelled last year due to the corona virus.  Four Germans, one Swiss, one Italian, one American, and one Dutchman contested with each other on various organs in Haarlem.  Three were selected from the preliminary round in 2020 and 5 from the preliminary round in 2021.

The jury members were Angar Wallenhorst (chr.), Anne de la Berge (US/NL), Hayo Boerema (NL), Bernard Foccroule (BE), Jeremy Joseph (South-Africa, Austria), and Thomas Lacôte (FA).

The author attended all three rounds of the competition.  What were the improvisation assignments?  Did they offer the candidates sufficient possibilities to display their improvisation talents?  And what did the players do with the assignments?

The competition was won by Gabriele Agrimonti.  The choice of the public was Cyril Julien.  The 3rd finalist was Niklas Jahn.

Images

  • Jury en finalisten 2021. V.l.n.r. Bernard Foccroule, Gabriele Agrimonti (eersteprijs-winnaar), Hayo Boerema, Anne de la Berge, Niklas Jahn (finalist), Cyril Julien (winnaar publieksprijs0, Jeremy Joseph, Thomas Lacôte en Angar Wallenhorst (juryvoorzitter).

  • Een opdracht tijdens de finale was een improvisatie met saxofonist Ties Mellema