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TheInternational Organ Festival(IOF) is a biennial music festival and organ competition held inSt Albans,England since 1963. Originally held annually, it was changed to every two years in 1965 due to the complexity of organising the increasingly ambitious programme. The festival is run mainly by volunteers.
The festival was conceived by the organist and choirmaster ofSt Albans Cathedral,Peter Hurford, to celebrate the building of a new organ at the cathedral byHarrison & Harrison. The main competitions are still conducted on this instrument, its eclectic style and modern electropneumatic action now complemented by another self-containedtracker action instrument which the International Organ Festival Society, the charity which runs the Festival, has had built for its own use and sited at St Saviour's Church, St Albans. This was built byPeter Collins in the style of, and in homage to, the early 18th century German organ builderAndreas Silbermann. There is a new (2005) organ inSt Peter's Church, St Albans byMander Organs, which played a role in the festival and competitions from 2007.
Recent competitions have also visited London, with competition rounds regularly held atChrist Church Spitalfields and, in 2017, a concerto final atSt John's Smith Square.
There are two main competitions, theinterpretation competition and theimprovisation competition (formerly known as theTournemire Prize). Judges have includedPiet Kee,Marie-Claire Alain,Anton Heiller,Ralph Downes,Harry Croft-Jackson,Thomas Trotter,Ton Koopman,Naji Hakim,Daniel Roth andDavid Sanger. The competition is considered prestigious, as may be judged by the list of past winners (starting with Susan Landale in 1963 andGillian Weir in 1964), and judges have occasionally decided not to award first prize.
The Artistic Director and Executive Director since 2007 isDavid Titterington, professor of organ at theRoyal Academy of Music.
The 2023 festival and competitions, marking the festival's 60th anniversary, took place from 3 to 15 July.
The festival's associated concert series includes large orchestral and choral works, chamber music and solo performances, as well as evening jazz. The Three Choirs concert is an audience favourite, in which over the years the choristers ofSt Albans Cathedral have been joined by many of England's most celebrated cathedral choirs (for instance, in 2013Salisbury Cathedral &York Minster, in 2015Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford andWestminster Cathedral, and in 2017St Paul's Cathedral &Temple Church).
Many of the great orchestras (theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra, theRoyal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and others) have played in the Festival, and there have been recitals and concerts from performers such asJohn Williams,Sarah Walker,Musica Antiqua Köln,Evelyn Glennie,Emma Kirkby,James Bowman andJulian Perkins. Concerts have sometimes been broadcast onBBC Radio 3. Many concerts take place in the Cathedral, but the Festival takes place all over St Albans with other regular venues including St Peter's Church and St Saviour's Church.
The 2021 Festival was one of the first events to take place after Covid-19 restrictions were partially relaxed in the UK. Performers includedNicola Benedetti withAurora Orchestra,Tenebrae,Jess Gillam,Steven Osborne andRoderick Williams.
The IOF Fringe presents community-focused performances in a wide range of formal and unconventional venues.
Events were mostly outdoors in historic parts of the City such as in front of theClock Tower and in the Tudor streets of St Michael's or in theAlban Arena. Artists taking part includedSeth Lakeman,The Swanvesta Social Club andIsla St Clair.
Previously, cabaret events and other entertainment had been run as part of the festival, including performances fromRichard Stilgoe,Jake Thackray,Instant Sunshine and others.
The following individuals have won prizes at the festival.[1]
