Twenty-six year old Thomas Gaynor has won first prize in the St. Albans International Organ Festival Competition. Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Gaynor is a doctoral student of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music, and is the Assistant Director of Music at Christ Church in Pittsford.
Held every two years in the historic suburb of London, the two-week long, multi-round competition ended on Saturday night. Three finalists each gave a solo recital, and then played a concerto with the Royal Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra at St. John’s Smith Square in London.
Gaynor will receive an award of six-thousand pounds sterling, which is about eight thousand U-S dollars. In addition, he will make a European concert tour, and receive concert management in the United States. Gaynor will also have the opportunity to make a CD recording.
Thomas Gaynor will return to the U-K in September for a gala winner’s concert in St. Albans.
