Finalists of the 10th edition

Tyler Boehmer, Alberta (Canada)

With international acclaim for his keyboard abilities, Dr. Tyler Boehmer carries much promise as an organ virtuoso. Dr. Boehmer recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Kansas, graduating with honors on his final exams. His principal teachers include Dr. Don Cook (Brigham Young University), Dr. James Higdon (University of Kansas), and Professor Edoardo Bellotti (Hochschule für Künste, Bremen, Germany). Boehmer has quickly begun to distinguish himself as a rising star. Recent solo performances have taken him to five cities throughout Russia, the Washington National Cathedral, and the 2016 AGO Houston Convention. He has also been active in many national and international competitions. Recent accolades include first prize in the 2019 Miami International Organ Competition, second prize in the 2018 Sydney International Organ Competition, and third prize (ex-aequo) in the 2021 Canadian International Organ Competition. He continues to set a high standard of excellence in his performances, and has been described as “consistently good and expressive” (John Karl Hirten, MM), and “accurate, musical, controlled, with good attention to detail” (Dr. John Longhurst, Tabernacle Organist Emeritus). Boehmer currently works at Texas Tech University as a contract accompanist. In the future, he plans to become a university professor.

Program for the final round :

Louis Vierne (1870-1937), Symphonie No. 6 in B minor, Opus 59 : I. Introduction et Allegro
François Morel (1926-2018), Prière
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548
Johann Sebastian Bach Bach, Trio Sonata No. 5 in C major, BWV 529 : II. Largo and III. Allegro
Gaston Litaize (1909-1991), Douze pièces pour grand orgue : VII. Scherzo
Marcel Dupré (1886-1971), Sept pièces, Opus 27 : I. Souvenir and IV. Carillon

Jerrick Cavagnaro, New Jersey (USA)

Jerrick Cavagnaro is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Music and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music where he earned a master’s degree in organ performance studying under Jon Laukvik and Thomas Murray. He completed his undergraduate studies at Westminster Choir College where he earned bachelor’s degrees in both sacred music and organ performance studying under Alan Morrison. During his time at Westminster Choir College Jerrick sang in and accompanied for the Grammy® nominated Westminster Williamson Voices. A native of New Jersey, Jerrick has served as the director of music at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Montville and Lincoln Park, NJ, as organ scholar at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Morristown, NJ, and as organ scholar at Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green, New Haven, CT working under the direction of R. Walden Moore. He now serves as the assistant director of music and organist at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, NC.

Program for the final round :

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532
Johann Sebastian Bach , Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor, BWV 526 : II. Largo and III. Allegro
Healey Willan (1880-1968), Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue, B.149
Louis Vierne (1870-1937), Symphonie No. 2 in E minor, Opus 20 : IV. Cantabile
Marcel Dupré (1886-1971), Trois préludes et fugues, Opus 7 : No. 1 (in B major)

Brandon Santini, Massachusetts (USA)

Brandon Santini, organist and pianist, is a native of Weymouth, MA. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in both organ and piano performance from the Oberlin Conservatory where he studied with James David Christie and Peter Takács and subsequently received his Master of Music degree in organ performance from the Eastman School of Music under the guidance of David Higgs. He has performed extensively and serves as both the Music Director and Organist for St. Theresa of Avila Parish in West Roxbury, MA and on the piano faculty at the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, MA. In 2016, Brandon was a finalist in the first Sursa American Organ Competition and in 2017 a semi-finalist in the Canadian International Organ Competition. Currently he studies with Christian Lane.

Program for the final round :

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543
Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor, BWV 526 : II. Largo and III. Allegro
César Franck (1822-1890), Choral No. 2 in B minor
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992), Messe de la Pentecôte : IV. Communion – Les oiseaux et les sources and V. Sortie – Le vent de l’Esprit
Louis Vierne (1870-1937), Pièces de fantaisie, Suite No. 4, Opus 55 : IV. Naïades
Louis Vierne (1870-1937), Symphonie No. 6 in B minor, Opus 59 : V. Final

Rosemarie Tougas, Québec (Canada)

Rosemarie Tougas is currently a master’s student at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in the class of Professor Arvid Gast. She completed her bachelor’s degree and a graduate diploma in performance at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in the class of Professor Hans-Ola Ericsson. She is the recipient of the 2018 John Grew Award, the 2018 Phyllis and Bernard Shapiro scholarship, the 2019 W. Douglas Clarke Memorial Award, and the 2020 and 2021 Student Excellence Awards. Until 2021, Rosemarie served as organist at Église du Très-Saint-Nom-de-Jésus in Montreal, and was a member of the board of the Société des Orgues de Maisonneuve.

Program for the final round :

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543
Robert Schumann (1810-1856), Six Studies in Canonic Form, Opus 56 : II. Mit innigem Ausdruck and V. Nicht zu schnell
Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor, BWV 526 : II. Largo and III. Allegro
César Franck (1822-1890), Choral No. 2 in B minor
Bruce Mather (né en 1939), Étude No. 7 « Broderies »
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992), L’Ascension : III. Transports de joie

Bruce Xu, New York (USA)

Bruce Xu, from Sloatsburg, New York, studies at Rice University. He was introduced to the grand pipe organ and the Protestant Church in his local Sloatsburg United Methodist Church. Within a month, he started organ lessons with Jimrae Lenser at age nine, and then went on to study with Craig Williams. Bruce continued his studies at University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ high school, where he studied organ performance with Timothy Olsen and sang with the Cantata Singers (of UNCSA). Bruce was also Music Intern at Augsburg Lutheran Church in Winston-Salem, NC. Bruce won the UNCSA/Salem College High School Organ Competition in 2017. As a 2017 rising star, Bruce performed at the 2018 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) in Kansas City. He recently enrolled in Rice University, studying organ under Ken Cowan. Bruce thoroughly enjoys playing classical piano in solo and chamber settings; playing his vocal chords in many styles; flute; and classical ukulele. He also enjoys playing soccer, tennis, and fitness.

Program for the final round :

Richard Wagner (1813-1883), Die Walküre : « Ride of the Valkyries » (arr. Edwin Lemare)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor, BWV 526 : I. Vivace and II. Largo
William Walton (1902-1983), Orb and Sceptre (arr. Robert Gower)
Johann Sebastian Bach, Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 532
Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986), Suite pour orgue, Opus 5 : II. Sicilienne and III. Toccata