Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition

close up of a person in a blue suit jacket wearing a gold medal on a blue ribbon

Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition

The Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition welcomes the organ world’s brightest young talents to compete in the picturesque setting of our Gardens for the $50,000 Pierre S. du Pont First Prize, the largest cash prize of any organ competition in the world.

Learn about the 2023 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition, which took place June 20–24, 2023.

From learning about the Longwood Organ to studying organ transcriptions, the competition serves as an educational experience for both competitors and judges. Judges are chosen for their expertise and concentration in organ transcriptions (pieces written for other instruments, but played on the organ), as the inclusion of organ transcriptions in competition repertoire sets this competition apart.

Congratulations to our 2023 winners!

Pierre S. du Pont First Prize

Bryan Anderson

Firmin Swinnen Second Prize

Colin MacKnight

Clarence Snyder Third Prize

Ádám Tabajdi

Audience Choice Prize

Colin MacKnight

AGO Philadelphia Chapter Prize

Bryan Anderson

Three winning competitors pose in front of the organ they played, each with a medal around their neck and holding a bouquet of flowers.
Left to right: Ádám Tabajdi, Bryan Anderson, Colin MacKnight
Meet the competitors

View the Recording of Our 2023 Competition

Preliminary Round 1: Alexander Straus-Fausto & Aleksanteri Wallius
Preliminary Round 2: Ashley Wagner
Preliminary Round 3: Samuel Lee, Aidan Hill, and Colin MacKnight
Preliminary Round 4: Bryan Anderson and Ádám Tabajdi
Final Round 1: Aleksanteri Wallius, Colin MacKnight, and Bryan Anderson
Final Round 2: Ádám Tabajdi and Samuel Lee
Awards Presentation

From Our Blog

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A Unique Opportunity
A close up of an organ console and keys.

A Unique Opportunity

By Simon Johnson, on May 24, 2023
Meet the Bright Young Talents of the 2023 Organ Competition
a close up of organ keys

Meet the Bright Young Talents of the 2023 Organ Competition

By Katie Mobley, on March 29, 2023
Striking a Chord

Striking a Chord

By Katie Mobley, on October 7, 2019
It Takes a Family

It Takes a Family

By Haig Mardirosian, on June 26, 2019
Style, Color, and Tone: Making the Organ Sing
a person sitting on an organ

Style, Color, and Tone: Making the Organ Sing

By Todd Wilson, on June 6, 2019

2013 International Organ Competition Documentary Trailer

The documentary follows the competitors behind-the-scenes as the drama unfolds, leading up to the announcement of the Pierre S. du Pont First Prize winner. This documentary was made possible by the support of our generous sponsors, and the vision of established filmmaker and producer Eric Schultz of PCK Media.

Lead Sponsor: Wilmington Trust

Sponsors: Frederick R. Haas Legacy Fund, Crystal Trust, 1916 Foundation