The National Competition in Organ Improvisation seeks to further the art of improvisation by recognizing and rewarding superior performance in the field. A flourishing tradition of improvisation is fundamental to a truly vital musical culture. The competition is open to all organists regardless of age, citizenship, or AGO membership. Applicants who do not reside in the U.S. are responsible for understanding and complying with U.S. visa requirements as well as travel costs where applicable. First-place winners of a previous NCOI are not eligible. The NCOI occurs biennially and commences with a recorded Application Round followed by a semifinal and final round held in conjunction with the National Convention. 2024 NCOI Official Rules.
Prizes
First Place – $5,000 funded by John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, Champaign, Illinois. A CD recording on the Pro Organo label and a promotional video, both distributed by Naxos of America.
Second Place – $3,000 funded by Cristina Cassellato in memory of McNeil Robinson.
Third Place – $2,000 funded by Ann Labounsky.
Audience prize – $1,500 funded by David Arcus.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 NCOI WINNERS!
First Place
Jerrick Cavagnaro has received degrees in organ performance and sacred music from Westminster Choir College and Yale University where he studied under Alan Morrison, Thomas Murray, and Jon Laukvik. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church (Copley Square) Boston, MA and was most recently Assistant Organist/Director of Music at Christ Episcopal Church, Charlotte, NC. In 2022, Jerrick won second prize in the National Competition in Organ Accompaniment, third prize in the Quebec Organ Competition, and was a semifinalist in the Boston Bach International Organ competition. This summer, he competed as a quarter finalist in the St. Alban’s organ competition.
Second Place and Audience Prize
Ethan Haman, from the San Francisco Bay Area, is Staff Accompanist for the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Greater New Haven Community Chorus, Director of Music for the Episcopal Church at Yale, and Organist at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT. He graduated with an MM and MMA in Organ from Yale in 2021/2022, studying improvisation with Jeffrey Brillhart, and graduated from USC in 2019 with a BM in Composition and Organ. He has performed in 23 states and 10 countries and has gone on several sponsored trips to study the French tradition of improvisation in Paris and Lyon.
Third Place
Nicholas Quardokus serves as Canon Organist and Director of Music at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, South Carolina, where he oversees the music at one of the largest Episcopal parishes in the Southeast. Quardokus held previous appointments as Assistant Organist of Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City, and as Organ Scholar of St. Paul’s Parish, K Street, Washington DC. He earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in organ performance from Indiana University and Yale University, respectively. His principal teachers include Janette Fishell and Martin Jean (organ), Elisabeth Wright and Arthur Haas (harpsichord), and Jeffrey Brillhart (improvisation).
A special note to chapters—hosting an AGO competition winner is the perfect chapter event! For more information, contact AGO Headquarters.
NCOI Winners
2022 Robert Horton First Place – On Impulse
Nara Lee Second Place
Ethan Haman Third Place & Audience Prize
2020 Ivan Bosnar First Place and Audience Prize – Form and Function
Samuel Gaskin Second Place
No Third Prize was awarded
2018 Kalle Toivio First Place – Improvisations at St. Ignatius
Robert Horton Second Place and Audience Prize
Douglas Murray Third Place
NCOI Committee
Renée Anne Louprette, MM, Director Email
Jeffrey Brillhart, MM Email
Kola Owolabi, DMA Email
Peggy Haas Howell, ex officio (Vice President/Councillor for Competitions and New Music) Email
AGO Headquarters
