Student Members make a sweep of the prizes in Armagh

Three RCO Student Members have won the prizes in the senior category of the 2nd Northern Ireland International Organ Competition, whilst a fourth was highly commended.

Held in Armagh on Monday 20 August, the competition jury was chaired by international organist, Kimberly Marshall, Goldman Professor of Organ at Arizona State University, with David Hill and Mark Duley joining her. They awarded prizes as follows:

1st Prize
of £1,000 (sponsored by Allen Organs NI) plus a professional CD recording and release, a professional online package, and recitals in Westminster Abbey, Trinity College Cambridge, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin and St Anne's Cathedral Belfast
Ben Bloor ARCO (New College, Oxford)

2nd Prize
Martyn Noble (St. Mary's, Battersea)

3rd Prize
Tom Etheridge (Eton College)

Highly Commended
Michael Papadopoulos ARCO (Trinity College, Oxford)

The winner in the intermediate category was Martina Smyth with highly commended going to Catherine Olver while the joint winners in the junior category were Ellen Mawhinney and Richard Carey.

The College warmly congratulates all the prize winners.

Photographs and further information about the competition can be found at www.niioc.com.