The British and French Organ Music Seminars
June 24 - July 14, 2007

The Experience of a Lifetime

Play the organs in the great cathedrals of France, England, and Germany!

Since 1988 the French Organ Music Seminar has featured study tours to Paris and other locations where participants hear and play the magnificent instruments and receive instruction in the form of master classes, lectures and recitals from leading organists.

These exciting seminars are planned for organists and organ lovers of all proficiency levels who wish to study the great French, British, and German organ playing traditions: the organs, the written music, service playing and improvisation. All classes and lessons are held in English. The participants are grouped together and assisted at all times by group leaders.

BRITISH ORGAN MUSIC SEMINAR
June 24 - June 29, 2007
Organs of
London	Eton
Windsor	Salisbury
Winchester

BOMS features in-depth service playing classes on some of the best and most interesting British organs. Emphasis will be on repertoire, choral accompaniment, service playing, and improvisation, including performance practices and registration under the tutelage of some of the world's greatest practitioners of the art.

FRENCH ORGAN MUSIC SEMINAR
June 29 - July 7, 2007
The Organs of Paris
Four Special Study Courses
Organ Playing Competition

FOMS offers unlimited hours of instruction and practice at the Conservatoire Régionale de Paris, supervised by Dr. Langlais. In addition, there will be the usual wonderful hours spent with Daniel Roth at the console of St. Sulpice, Naji Hakim at La Trinité, Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet at Notre-Dame-des-Champs, and many others; priceless moments that have made FOMS into one of the best known and respected seminars in the world. Optional side trips are currently under consideration.

GERMAN ORGAN MUSIC SEMINAR
July 7 - July 13, 2007
Organs of
Hamburg	Freiburg
Neuenfelde	Dresden
Naumburg	Leipzig

GOMS is new for this year. We have the benefit of the 16 years of experience of the ORGAN promotion organization, with Michael Grueber as our host and guide, coupled with our own extensive experience in planning successful trips for organists.

FOMS and BOMS return to many popular locations each year, but each seminar is different, NEVER a repeat, adding new instructors, locations and topics. Graduate credit is offered by many colleges and universities for these seminars. Through the years many of our participants have formed long-lasting friendships, and the popularity of the seminars is evident by the large number of returnees.

Many people have asked about more specific itineraries. There is some news on each seminar which is being updated as information becomes available. The itineraries for England and Germany should be available soon. The Paris itinerary will not be finalized until the spring, but will include morning, afternoon, and evening sessions, with choices to attend study seminars, large group organ demonstrations, private or small group lessons, or playing sessions at different Paris organs. There will be time for you to play the organ, and repertoire will be formulated according to the wishes of the participants. So please prepare any English music for England, any French music for France, and any German music for Germany, and let us know when we send out requests for your repertoire. You will be getting lots of sheets with lots of information in the coming months, such as organ and organists histories, tips for traveling, updates on seminar instructors and events, descriptions of hotels, etc.

The FOMS / Langlais Competition for Young Organists

We are happy to announce that there are 6 finalists for the FOMS Competition to be held February 17 at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, between 73rd and 74th on Madison Avenue in NYC. The judges for the competition will be Dr. Marie Louise Langlais, Terry Flanagan, and Arthur Lawrence.

All contestants displayed a lot of talent and potential. The pieces to be played are:

Cèsar Franck: Choral in A Minor and Piece Heroique
Jean Langlais: Te Deum and La Nativité from Poèmes èvangéliques

All contestants displayed a lot of talent and potential. The pieces to be played are:

Cèsar Franck: Choral in A Minor and Piece Heroique
Jean Langlais: Te Deum and La Nativité from Poèmes èvangéliques

The prizes are:

First place prize: Round trip airfare to Paris, FOMS Seminar and hotel costs, and $1,000 cash.
Second place prize: Round trip airfare to Paris, FOMS Seminar and hotel costs.
Third place prize: FOMS Seminar and hotel costs.

The finalists are:

John Alexander:

John has a Masters in Organ Performance from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. He studied with Robert Burns King and Brian Bailey. He is the organist at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC.
John Allegar:

John currently studies with Lorraine Brugh at Valparaiso University and serves as the Director of Chapel Music at Valparaiso University
Joseph Arndt:

Joseph is a senior at Westminster Choir College studying with Ken Cowan. Joseph is a former participant in the French Organ Music Seminar, and currently serves as the Director of Music at Lamington Presbyterian Church in Bedminster, NJ.
Adam Brakel:

Adam just graduated magna cum laude from Duquesne University with a degree in Organ Performance and has begun a Master's degree in Organ Performance at Juilliard, studying with Paul Jacobs. He is also the Assistant Organist at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in NYC.
Samuel Gaskin:

Samuel is a 15 year old organist who already has won honors, including the first prize in the high school division of the Schweitzer Competition in Connecticut in the fall of 2006. He has studied with Hugh Thompson and currently studies with Christina Harmon and Jerome Wells. Samuel is a featured organ recitalist in the AGO Regional Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska in June. He is a former participant in the French Organ Music Seminar.
Yeo Eun Park:

Yea Eun is a graduate student at the Eastman School of Music studying with Dr. Hans Davidsson. Formerly she studied at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.

The competition is Saturday, February 17, at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian, New York City. You are welcome to come to this event, and join us for dinner afterwards!

Thanks to those of you who have contributed to the scholarship fund! You have helped to make it possible for us to present this competition.

Tax-deductible Contributions are still needed and appreciated.

Clinicians for 2007 include:

France			England	Germany
Marie-Louise Langlais	Sylvie Mallet	Thierry Escaich	Sarah Baldock	Michael Grueber
Daniel Roth	Fréderic Blanc	Aude Huertematte	Martin Baker	Stefan Engels
Naji Hakim	Kurt Lueders	Francois Espinasse	Andrew Lumsden
Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet	Jean Galard	Brigitte Galard	Richard Townend
Olivier Latry	Sophie Choplin	Didier Matry	David Goode

Organists and participants of all proficiency levels will have the opportunity to participate in the following activities:

Hear and play magnificent instruments
Master classes and private lessons from world-renowned French organists
Receive invaluable historic information
Daily master classes and lessons are offered
Regularly scheduled classes at the various churches throughout Paris
Organ practice time is available

We ask that our participants select music suitable for the particular instrument. Although larger works are welcome, there may not be time for them to be played in their entirety, as each participant will have a limited amount of time on some of the organs. Short, intimate pieces are very good for showing the various timbres of the solo stops, celestes and small ensembles, and provide a welcome contrast to large, loud works. Participants will be divided into small groups as needed to ensure playing time for everyone at each instrument.

Walking is extensive, so bring your walking shoes. In Paris we use the subway system, both of which contain long flights of stairs. In addition, there are stairways to all of the organ lofts, many of which are precarious spiral stairs. If you have trouble walking or standing, please let us know when registering.

Contact Information:
Toll Free 1-800-805-9571
Christina Harmon, Director (214) 860-1545 (Voice) Fax: 214-860-3938; email: charmon@pcbc.org
Cliff Varnon (972) 270-3334 email: cvarnon@sbcglobal.net
Snail Mail: French Organ Music Seminar
8409 Pickwick Lane, #123
Dallas, Texas 75225

Last Updated: 03 Dec 2006
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