The finalists of the International Martini Organ Competition Groningen have been announced! - International Martini Organ Competition Groningen

The organists who will advance to the IMOCG final on Saturday, August 3, are (in alphabetical order):

– Francesco Botti (Italy)

– Samuel Giddy (Australia)

– Wibren Jonkers (Netherlands)

The semi-final was played in the Akerk, on the Schnitger organ. A splendid instrument, again proved. The Akerk organ and the Martini organ complement each other beautifully in a competition like this and for the participants it is quite a challenge to master two such different instruments (as far as that is possible in a week’s time) and to let them shine. Definitely worth repeating.

A very diverse repertoire was on the program for the semifinals, with a Concerto by Antonio Vivaldi (organ arrangement by J.S. Bach), the work Passacaglia by Jan Welmers and two fugues by Mendelssohn. A veritable musical tangle for the young organists to untangle.

het Akerk-orgel met de jury en het publiek

The jury consisting of president Bernard Foccroulle, Monica Melcova, Vincent Thévenaz, Matthias Havinga and Ville Urponen, was unanimous in its verdict this time. It took them 15 minutes to reach a decision. Chairman Bernard Foccroulle indicated that he and the other jury members were impressed with the performances. According to the jury, the young organists showed that they could play a very demanding repertoire on an equally demanding organ.

The three finalists will play a program in the Martinikerk on Saturday, August 3, with compositions by Matthias Weckmann, Johann Sebastian Bach (choice of three works), Jan Brandts Buys and Reitze Smits.

The organists will have two hours each on Friday to prepare for the organ. Half an hour of that is with the registrants.