The International Martini Organ Competition Groningen has reached the next stage!
Today, Tuesday, July 30, the jury has announced which six participants will advance to the semi-finals. The twelve organists played their very best during two very intensive competition days. The first day, Monday, July 29, they played in Loppersum, on the beautiful De Mare/Hinsz organ. The second day everyone got the chance to play on the famous Martini organ in the Martini Church Groningen. The repertoire included Froberger, Kerll, W.F. Bach, Distler (Loppersum) and Buxtehude, J.S. Bach, Beethoven and Piet Kee (Groningen). So very diverse, and the organists thus had every opportunity to show their talent and skill.
The international jury announced, after more than half an hour of deliberation, that the following contestants may proceed to the semi-finals:
1. Francesco Botti (Italy)
2. Ilaria Centorrino (Italy)
3. Samuel Giddy (Australia)
4. Himawari Honda (Japan)
5. Wibren Jonkers (Netherlands)
6. Frederik Kranemann (Germany)
President Bernard Foccroulle noted that the level of participants was very high in this edition, and that the organization of the IMOCG should be proud! He also said that the quality of the repertoire was very high.
The semi-final will take place on Thursday, August 1, in the Akerk in Groningen, on the Schnitger organ that is in this church. There will be two sessions: three semifinalists will play in the afternoon, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the other three will play in the evening from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The program will include works by Vivaldi, Welmers and Mendelssohn. On Wednesday, the organists will each have an hour and a half to play on the organ to prepare.
After the semifinals, the judges will also immediately announce who the three finalists will be who will play in the finals on Saturday, Aug. 3!
