A very remarkable decision of the jury of the International Organ Improvisation Competition Haarlem: they did not declare a winner. After long deliberation, the six-member jury came to the conclusion that the level of the three finalists was not good enough this time and that too little was delivered in terms of innovation, originality and creativity. The final, in which the organists had to give improvisations to old, soundless films, took place on Saturday evening in the Grote of St. Bavokerk in Haarlem.
Artistic and business director of the competition Peter Ouwerkerk was present at the deliberation of the jury and its struggle that ultimately led to the controversial decision. “After an hour of deliberation, the jury decided to uphold the name of the festival”, says Ouwerkerk, “and jointly come to the conclusion that the level of the finalists was so disappointing that it is better no prizes this time. Also to keep the prices of a certain stature for the future.”
Stagnation means decline
According to Ouwerkerk, there was too little innovation in the game among the finalists. “If you observe that what is performed by the finalists on Saturday evening is comparable to what could already be heard ten or fifteen years ago, without any development towards new sounds, new use of the organ or new ways of using the organ. play, then that’s a shame. Then the development apparently comes to a standstill.”
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Big disappointment finalists
The finalists reacted with great disappointment to the remarkable decision of the jury, although some took it better than others. Artistic and business leader Ouwerkerk praises the way in which the German finalist David Kiefer picks up on the jury’s choice. “He seized the opportunity to immediately register for an improvisation course,” says Ouwerkerk. “And he immediately gets to work with it that way.”
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“It disappoints me greatly that people in the world of the arts are now judging each other so much”
But there are also other sounds from the other camps, also to the surprise of Ouwerkerk, who at the same time does not want to say too much about it. “I now also receive all kinds of strange emails. In that sense, the organ world is now also part of a society in which everything can be said. But it does surprise me that in the world of the arts people are now also meeting each other in that way. measures up. That really disappoints me.”
Possible breathing space for competition
In order to see how innovation can be achieved in organ playing, perhaps not a new competition, but a symposium will be organized in two years’ time, where authorities from the music world can exchange ideas about this. “This suggestion was made by the jury,” said Ouwerkerk. “The new edition of the improvisation competition would then possibly take place again in 2026. A final decision on this will be made in a few months.”