The 2026 Competition Categories & Prizes
Senior Category
Date – Monday 17 August 2026
Session 1: 12.30pm & Session 2: 7pm
Venue: St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh
Rehearsals: Saturday 15, Sunday 16 and Monday 17 August 2026
Level: Post-Grade 8 Standard
Age: 21 or under on Monday 17 August 2026
Programme: A 20-minute recital, which must include a work by J S Bach.
Entry Fee: £65 / €75
Entries close: Friday 10 July 2026 at 12 noon
Prizes:
1st: The John Pilling Trust First Prize of £4,000
PLUS, new for 2026, The Dunleath Scholarship of £1,000
And a $100 Leupold Foundation Gift Certificate for a one-time purchase on its website, from either Leupold Editions (new organ publications), The Leupold Archives, or Leupold Music (pre-owned organ music).
2nd: The David McElderry Memorial Award of £1,000
3rd: £500
Bach Prize: £300 and a $100 Leupold Foundation Gift Certificate for a one-time purchase on its website of Bach organ works from Leupold Editions.
The Dame Gillian Weir Medal and £300, for the standout performance of a single work, excluding JS Bach. The bespoke work is specially created for the Competition by the Northern Ireland goldsmith, Joel Smyth.
A full range of prestigious prize recitals – both UK and global – will be announced in mid-May.
Intermediate Category
Date – Tuesday 18 August 2026, 1pm
Venue: St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh
Rehearsals: Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August 2026
Level: Grades 6-8 Standard (competitors must not have gained a diploma)
Age: 21 or under on Monday 17 August 2026
Programme: A recital lasting no more than 12 minutes
Entry Fee: £45 / €50
Entries close: Friday 10 July 2026 at 12 noon
Prizes:
1st: £1000 John Pilling Trust First Prize
And a $100 Leupold Foundation Gift Certificate for a one-time purchase on its website, from either Leupold Editions (new organ publications), The Leupold Archives, or Leupold Music (pre-owned organ music).
2nd: £500
3rd: £300
PLUS, new for 2026, an award of £200 for the standout performance of a single work.
Junior Category
Details of an Autumn Celebration Day for junior and adult organists, performing at a level of Grade 5 and under, will be announced in August.
Rules, Conditions & Payment Details can be found here.
The 2026 Jury
Liesbeth Schlumberger
Liesbeth Schlumberger is a South African-born organist and educator, renowned for her mastery of French organ repertoire and her contributions to organ pedagogy in Europe. She began her organ studies while still at school, traveling fortnightly from Vryheid, Northern Natal, to Parktown, Johannesburg for lessons with Professor Stephanus Zondagh. Schlumberger later graduated from the University of Pretoria and moved to France to study organ with Marie-Claire Alain at the Conservatoire National de Rueil-Malmaison and harpsichord with Huguette Dreyfuss.
She won first prize in the International Organ Competition held in Bordeaux in 1989. In 1994, she was appointed Organist of the Reformed Church of Étoile in Paris – where she performs on a historic Cavaillé-Coll instrument – and 2 years later she joined the teaching staff of the Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse, Lyon, then directed by Jean Boyer and more recently by François Espinasse.
Liesbethh Schlumberger is an active recitalist and educator, sitting on competition juries – notably Chartres in 2010 – and conducting masterclasses across Europe, Asia and Africa.
Peter Holder
Peter Holder is Organist at Christ Church, Oxford – a position he has held since 2024. Prior to that he was Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey, where he played for many major state and royal occasions, including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, broadcast to billions around the world. For this, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, London. He was previously Sub-Organist at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Peter Holder was educated at the Royal Academy of Music, completing a BMus (1st class) and MA. As a highly sought-after organ soloist, he has given recitals around the globe, including in Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the First Night of the 2019 Proms, and he is also active as a continuo player. He has extensive teaching experience, mentoring organ scholars, as well as tutoring students at the Royal Academy of Music. He also leads masterclasses across Europe and the US.
David Hill
David Hill is widely recognised as one of the leading choral directors in the UK. His fine musicianship is recognised through his appointments as Artistic Director of the Bach Choir, London and Yale Schola Cantorum, a Past President of the Royal College of Organists, former Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers and former Organist and Director of Music of Westminster Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral and St John’s College Cambridge. David is a patron of the competition and has been a jury member every year since its inception.
Born in Carlisle and educated at Chetham’s School of Music, of which he is now a Governor, he was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists at the remarkably young age of 17. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Southampton for Services to Music, and in March 2018, he was honoured with the prestigious Royal College of Organists medal, in recognition of distinguished achievement in choral conducting and organ playing. In January 2019 David Hill was awarded an MBE for services to music.
