International Organ Competition from September 27th to October 2nd, 2026 in Schramberg / Black Forest




Program


Rating Interpretation

Preselection

Johannes Brahms: Präludium und Fuge g-Moll Wo0 10
Robert Schumann: Studien h-moll Op. 56 Nr. V und H-Dur Op. 56 Nr. VI

Submission as an uncut recording (dividing each piece into individual files is possible) via Dropbox by April 30, 2026. The Dropbox link for submission will be provided upon registration.

Semi-final at the Späth organ in Heilig Geist
Max Reger: Choralfantasie: "Wie schön leucht uns der Morgenstern" or Choralfantasie "Halleluja! Gott zu loben bleibe meine Seelenfreud".
Siegfried Karg-Elert: Cantilena Op. 86 Nr. 3
Franz Schmidt: Toccata C-Dur

Registration of the organ on September 24th or 25th 2026.

Final at the Walcker organ in St. Maria
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Sonate f-Moll Op. 65 Nr. 1 or Sonate B-Dur Op. 65 Nr. 4
Johannes Brahms: O Welt, ich muss dich lassen. Op. 122 Nr. 11
Robert Schumann: Studie As-Dur Op. 56 Nr. IV
Franz Liszt: "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen"


Awards Interpretation:
1st award € 5000.-
2nd award € 2000.-
3rd award € 1000.-





Rating Organ improvisation

In 2026, the Schramberg International Organ Competition will include an organ improvisation category for the first time. The focus will be on improvisation in the German Romantic musical language, but other styles, including contemporary and free improvisation, will also be welcome. Polyphonic elements and formal coherence are also expected.

Preselection
Two forms of improvisation:
1) Variations on the chorale "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" (style optional), see Evangelical Hymnal No. 70
2) Chorale prelude and fugue in the German Romantic style on "O Jesu, all mein Leben bist du" (O Jesus, all my life is yours), see Gottestlob No. 377. The fugue subject can be chosen by the hymn writer and derived idiomatically from the chorale.
Total playing time max. 15 min

Please submit your improvisations as an uncut recording (dividing into two files is possible) via Dropbox by April 30, 2026. The Dropbox link for submission will be provided upon registration.

Semi-final at the Späth organ in Heilig Geist
Introduction and Passacaglia
Three choral arrangements in the German Romantic style
Duration of the semi-final preliminary rounds (including registration breaks) per participant: max. 25 minutes

Registration of the organ on September 29th.

Finale at the Walcker organ in St. Maria
Variation on a given theme, style freely chosen (playing time max. 10 min)
Fantasy and fugue in the German Romantic style based on given text or theme templates (playing time max. 10 min)
Improvisation to a given silent film, style open (duration approx. 5-7 min, the silent film will be provided to the finalist one hour before the start of the recording time on a tablet computer, during this hour a piano will be available for preparing the silent film accompaniment.


Awards Improvisation:
1st Award € 5000.-
2nd Award € 2000.-




Jury:
Bine Bryndorf, London
Ludger Lohmann, Lindau
Thomas Ospital, Paris
Konstantin Volostnov, Berlin

Head of the committee: David Franke, Freiburg



The winners of the competition receive prize money and concert engagements in Germany and abroad, including performances on Walcker organs (Schramberg, Winterthur, Annaberg-Buchholz, Strasbourg, Ludwigsburg, Waldkirch, Vienna Votive Church, etc.) and other concert venues (Freiburg Cathedral, the new Goll organ in the Reformed Church of Horgen, Switzerland, etc.).
To participate in the competition, participants must be under 35 years of age by the submission deadline. Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements to the competition. Accommodation will be provided.




Registration:
Registration is done via e-mail to

wettbewerb2026@schramberger-orgelkonzerte.de


The registration deadline is April 30, 2026.