Salem College, in partnership with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, sponsored the High School Organ Competition on Saturday, January 28 at First Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. The competition was held in conjunction with the Winston-Salem Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO).

The competition was open to any current high school student, with this year’s competitors hailing from as far away as California. In addition to performing in the competition, the students participated in workshops that included a master class taught by Salem College professor Timothy Olsen and a seminar on injury-preventative keyboard technique taught by Salem College piano professor and director of the School of Music, Barbara Lister-Sink.

Prizes for the High School Organ Competition included the $2,000 Thomas S. Kenan, III first prize, the $1,000 Winston-Salem AGO second prize and the $350 John and Margaret Mueller Hymn Prize. The first prize winner was given the option to exchange their cash award for one year of tuition to UNCSA.

In addition, the Salem College keyboard faculty and student recital was held in Shirley Recital Hall in the Salem Fine Arts Center on the Salem College campus.