Exciting news! Christ Church Cathedral’s own Junior Organ Scholar, Collin Miller, has been invited to participate in two prestigious organ competitions this season.
As one of only three finalists nationwide, Collin will be performing at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Syracuse, New York, on Friday, June 4, as part of the Poister Competition.
In July, Collin will participate virtually as one of 12 international finalists in the St. Albans’ competition, arguably the world’s leading organ competition, based in the historic city of St. Albans, just outside London, England.
Collin has been an organ scholar at the Cathedral since Fall 2019, when he was a senior in his undergraduate program at Indiana University. Now in his second year of a three-year master’s program at IU, Collin continues to delight us with his skillful and inspired contributions to worship services and choral accompaniments. Collin is currently the Barbara and David Jacobs Fellow at IU, having earned the full scholarship of the same name for his undergraduate studies.
As Collin describes it, the unique pleasures of playing the organ include the “sonic palettes and textures” the organist can create, and the exhilarating experience of playing with both hands and both feet. “It’s fun when everything’s going at once,” he said. Adding with a laugh, that it’s “as good a workout as anyone would need.”
You can learn more about the Poister and St. Alban’s competitions online. We’ve posted Collin’s program for each event below.
Collin is grateful to Christ Church Cathedral for the opportunity to grow as a musician during his time with us. Speaking of Music Director Christopher Caruso-Lynch, Collin said, “Chris has been a great teacher in every aspect of church music.” Please join us in congratulating Collin for what is already a stellar accomplishment and wishing him all the best as he finishes the academic year and prepares to compete in June and July.
Competition programs
Poister Competition
- Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532, by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Etoile du Soir by Louis Vierne
- Tierces and Octaves from Six Etudes by Jeanne Demessieux
St. Alban’s Competition
- Octaves from Six Etudes by Jeanne Demessieux
- Prelude and Fugue in B Major by Camille Saint-Saëns
- Commissioned work by Roxanna Panufnik
- Fantasia in C minor, BWV 562, by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Symphonische Fantasie, Op. 57i, “Inferno,” by Max Reger
Update June 10, 2021
We are overjoyed to share that Collin was awarded First Place at the Arthur Poister Competition in Syracuse, New York. The competition was hosted June 4 through the American Guild of Organists. Join us in congratulating Collin and sending him encouragement for his next competition—this time on the international stage—in July.
Watch Collin’s winning performance below.