Improvisation Competition

IMPROVISATION
COMPETITION

2026

The International Improvisation Competition, founded in 1951, is the most important component of the Organ Festival. The competition consists of a preliminary round, for which a recording of 5 improvisations was required, and two rounds and a Finale in Haarlem. The participants will receive only one hour prior to their performance (without using a keyboard instrument) for each round 2 assignments. They will improvise not only as soloists but also with another disciplines or with other musicians.
The Improvisation Competition is open to professional organists with concert improvisation experience. There is no age limit.

Participants in 2026

From the recordings sent to the organization, a preliminary jury consisting of Zuzana Ferjencíková, Geerten van de Wetering and Jan Hage selected the following organists:

Andy Brown (USA)
Daniel Carroll (USA)
Jack Day (UK/D)
Ethan Haman (USA/D)
Alex Leonardi (USA)
Hubert Trojanek (PL)
Goetz Bienert (D)
Berhard Hauk (D)

The themes which were used for the preliminary round can be downloaded here.

Dates

All 8 participants will play in the first round on Monday 20 July. The jury will select 6 players for the second rond on Wednesday 22 July; the Final (3 finalists) and the announcement of the Winner of 2026 will take place on Friday 24 July 2026 in the Grote of St.-Bavokerk in Haarlem. See the overview on Festival Program to buy tickets for these rounds.

Jury

The jury of the 2026 International Improvisation Competition consists of:

Jean-Pierre Leguay (F)
Franz Danksagmüller (D)
Mathilde Wantenaar (NL)
Inger-Lise Ulsrud (NO)
Samuel Liégeon (F)
Ansgar Wallenhorst (D, chairman)

Prizes

There are three prizes to be won: a jury prize (€5,000) which is sponsored by the Piet Kee Stichting, an audience prize (€1,000) and a prize for the best improvisation of the competition (€500). In addition to the cash prize, the winner of the jury prize will receive an original pen drawing of the Bavo organ and will be offered a series of concerts around the world.

On Tuesday 21 July 2026 from 1.15 until 3.15 PM, Jean-Pierre Leguay will give a public lecture-masterclass with the competition participants on the Cavaillé-Coll organ in Phil Haarlem.