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Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA
NATIONAL COMPETITION FOR YOUNG ORGANISTS
The First-Place High School Division Prize is Provided by
Ahlborn-Galanti Organs
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2007 First-Place High School Division Winner
Benton Blasingame is a high school senior at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan, whose alumni include jazz legend Dave Brubeck’s sons, the highly accomplished musicians Chris and Dan. Ben is an organ major at the academy, with a minor in piano. When he is home from school, Ben serves as one of two organists to a congregation of 2500 and occasionally plays at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (Missouri). Earlier this year, he placed first at the American Guild of Organists/Quimby Chapter Competition for Young Organists in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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2006 First-Place High School Division Winner
Samuel Gaskin, 15, is organist for St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beaumont, Texas. Samuel began studying piano at age three and organ at age eight. At age 10 Samuel was the youngest student awarded the endowed A.W. Yeats Memorial Organ Scholarship for pipe organ study at First United Methodist Church of Beaumont.
In September 2006, at age 14, Samuel became the youngest to be awarded first prize in the High School Division of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA. In July, he studied with Paul Jacobs as part of the Philadelphia POE. In April, Samuel also won first prize in a national organ competition held at Oklahoma City University. In addition to performing solo concerts in three Texas cities in the spring of 2006, Samuel also performed with the Boston Brass on the Lied Schoenstein Chancel Organ at First-Plymouth Congregational Church for the Meadowlark Music Festival in Lincoln.
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Jacob Street, 2005 winner.
Ray Albright of Ahlborn-Galanti
with 2004 winner Nathan Laube
following the awards ceremony.
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Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)
Dr. Schweitzer was a physician, theologian, musician and philosopher. His writings on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) have been an invaluable resource and inspiration for organists and musicologists. The Nobel Peace Laureate’s ethic of Reverence for Life emphasizes each human being’s responsibility to all forms of life on our planet. This philosophy is the foundation of the programs of the Albert Schweitzer Institute, located at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.
Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA is hosted by
First Church of Christ ♦ 250 Main Street ♦ Wethersfield, CT 06109
860-529-1575, ext. 209 ♦ www.firstchurch.org/asof
David Spicer, Minister of Music and the Arts
David Gilbert, Administrative Assistant
Leslie Ambrosio Vliet, ASOF/USA Chairperson
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