International Albert-Schweitzer organ competition 2025
Hosted by Musikfestspiele Saar gGmbH FROM 8TH TO 12TH OF OCTOBER 2025
The Albert-Schweitzer organ competition 2025 will be sponsored MEISER Holding GmbH.
»Too often, and more often than ever in today’s world, Germany being no exception, we settle for mediocrity. And yet, it ought to be our aspiration to belong to the best. That must be true for our cultural environments just as much as in entrepre- neurial or economic endeavours. It is, therefore, our dearest concern to single out and sponsor excellent performances.«
– ULRICH MEISER, executive proprietor
Albert Schweitzer was a Nobel Peace Price awardee, philosopher and medical professional, musicologist and exceptional organist. We celebrate his 150th birthday in 2025. The border area between Germany, France and Luxemburg commemorates Albert Schweitzer as an important pioneer of friendship between the countries. He has had a lasting effect on our organ music scene, his pleas for a peaceful community of all peoples more relevant than ever. The Musikfestspiele Saar will be recognising his legacy appropriately. In accordance with MEISER’s initiative we will host the international Albert-Schweizer organ competition from 8th to 12th of october 2025 in Saarbrucken. Organists from all over the world are invited to present themselves in front of a high-profile international jury. The new concept for the competition has the potential to push current standards.
Procedure and program
The Albert-Schweitzer organ competition 2025 will be holding public auditions for the pre-selected candidates in the Basilica St. Johann in Saarbrucken.
PRE-SELECTION
The jury will be choosing the candidates by means of audio and video recordings handed in by the competitors. The titles and programs are to be handed in before the start of the competition. The competition is open to organists of any nationality born after 31.12.1991 who accept the competition conditions. Admission to the competition will be decided by the jury on the basis of the recording sent in. The order of participants will be decided by lot. Practice times will be indicated accordingly. The jury will decide on the results of the competition on the basis of the jury rules. The decisions made by the jury are irrevocable and there is no legal recourse.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The closing date for applications is 1st of may 2025. Written confirmation will be sent by 31th of may 2025 at the latest.
The following must be submitted with the application:
Proof of date of birth (copy of birth certificate / identity card / passport), Curriculum vitae, portrait photo in print quality (min. 1300 x 1800 pixels).
The application must be sent to: orgelwettbewerb@musikfestspiele-saar.de
Only digital applications will be accepted.
The organ disposition of the 5-manual Klaus-Mayer organ
of the Basilica St. Johann Saarbrücken:https://musikfestspielesaar.de/orgelwettbewerb/
PARTICIPATION FEE
The participation fee is 50 euros. This fee is to be transferred immediately after the written confirmation to the account of Musikfestspiele Saar keyword:
»Teilnahmegebühr Orgelwettbewerb 2025«
Musikfestspiele Saar gGmbH
IBAN: DE59 5905 0101 0074 1767 02
BIC: SAKSDE55XXX
No reimbursement will be made for non-participation in the competition.
ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL EXPENSES
The organizer will bear the hotel and transport costs for the invitation to the final round.
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registrars are not provided by the organizing office. The instrument is equipped with a modern typesetter. The organizer is entitled to make audio-visual recordings of all events within the framework of the competition and to use them for its own public relations work. This does not entitle the competition participants to any remuneration. All prizewinners are obliged to participate free of charge in the prizewinners‘ concert on 12th of october 2025 at 16h in the Basilica St. Johann Saarbrucken. In addition to the organ competition, the 15th International Lisdorf Organ Academy (12th to 15th of october 2025) will take place immediately afterwards with the lecturers Philippe Lefebvre and Vincent Dubois. This master class is free of charge for invited participants of the competition. Further information can be found at: www.klingende-kirche.de
This event is a cooperation between the »Klingende Kirche« association, Musikfestspiele Saar gGmbH, the Cultural Office of the City of Saarlouis and the Diocese of Trier.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMPETITION
A) FIRST ROUND
Program requirement of the pre-selection:
· a large diptych (Prelude, Toccata, Fantasia and Fugue)
by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
· a slow movement and a fast movement from an organ
symphony by Charles Marie Widor (1844–1937)
THE JURY
Sophie-Véronique Choplin (Paris, F) | Vincent Dubois (Paris, Saarbrücken) | Matthias Maierhoffer (Freiburg, D) | Zuzana Ferencjekova (Rotterdam, NL) | Nathan Laube (Rochester, New York) | Bernhard Leonardy (Saarbrücken, D) | Albert Oehlen (St. Gallen, CH) | Thomas Trotter (Birmingham, GB)
The jury will make a selection of up to 9 candidates, who will be invited (transportation and hotel) to the final from 8 to 12 october 2025 in the Basilica St. Johann Saarbrücken.
B) FINAL ROUND
1) 40 minutes of organ music (maximum) with a trio sonata by Johann Sebastian Bach (free choice), one of the 3 Chorals by César Franck (free choice) and a contemporary organ work (free choice) composed from 1950 onwards. The goal is to give room to compositions that follow a specific dramaturgical idea. A short clarification of said idea will be given by the jury before the realization of the program
2) 15 minutes of improvised or composed organ music on the previously chosen painting by the artist Albert Oehlen, which will be placed in the basilica. https://musikfestspielesaar.de/orgelwettbewerb/
PRIZES
1st prize of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition 2025: € 15,000
2nd prize: € 7,000
Third prize: € 3,000
Prize for the best musical interpretation of the
work of art by Albert Oehlen: € 2,000
Prize of the audience: € 2,000
