Première Performance
The top two compositions in the Collegiate / Professional division, selected by the judging panel, will be publicly premièred by organist Austin Philemon at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio on March 18, 2022 at 7:30 pm.
Both the two final prizes, as well as an audience prize, will be announced immediately following the recital.
The top two compositions in the Young Artist division will receive an audio recording made by selected members of the Alamo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. All applicants of the Young Artist division will receive written critique from the judging panel.
Guest Artist
is an active performer, conductor, and composer based in the New York City area. As an organist, Austin has had the opportunity to perform recitals domestically including at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, St. Paul’s Chapel at Trinity Wall Street, and the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square, as well as abroad in Paris, France; Graz, Austria; Romainmôtier, Switzerland; Haarlem, Netherlands; and Modena, Italy. He most recently was chosen as a finalist for the University of Michigan Organ Improvisation Competition, and also received first prize in the George R. Mathison Memorial Competition.
Always an advocate for new music, as a composer of both traditional and electro-acoustic works Austin is actively receiving commissions to collaborate with artists. His most recent work, Curiouser and Curiouser for vocalist and live electronics was performed in April, 2019 in New York City by Luke Paulino. Austin also recently enjoyed curating FRESH PIPES: a concert of world premieres for organ, in which he commissioned four composers to write new organ works as well as premiering one of his own.
Austin graduated with the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Dr. Andrew Henderson. He graduated summa cum laude as a Levine Scholar from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he double-majored in German and Organ Performance, helping to found the university’s organ program with his teacher, Dr. Jacqueline Yost. Currently Austin serves as Assistant Organist and Children’s Choir Director at the combined parishes of St. John Nepomucene and St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, and works as Music Administrator for the Bach Vespers in New York City.
For more information visit: austinphilemon.com