Pipe Organ Composition
Contest 2025 Winner

Erik Meyer

Organ Sonata No. 1
II. Schlow

From Collingswood NJ, Erik Meyer studied piano with David Bryant, and was later introduced to the organ by J. Bert Carlson, who inspired him to pursue a career in music. He went on to attend the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he continued his organ studies with Donald Sutherland.  He has won a variety of organ competitions including the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival, regional American Guild of Organists competitions, and was a semi-finalist in the National Young Artist Competition in Organ Performance. Since graduation, he has performed hundreds of concerts throughout the US and Europe, most notably Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden, Bristol Cathedral in the UK, and a number of important churches across the US. While at Peabody, he met his wife Anna, and the two of them formed the AE Meyer flute and organ duo. They have performed around the US and UK, and are actively commissioning new concert works for their unique ensemble.

As a composer, Erik writes in a wide variety of styles and genres, from choral to symphonic to electronic; his works are available from a handful of publishers. His compositions have won a number of awards, including the Twin Cities AGO competition, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians’ Raabe prize, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ competition, and FredBrass; he is also the composer of the new Johns Hopkins University school song. He is the composer-in-residence for Elevate Vocal Arts and the Elevation choir.

Erik is adjunct faculty at Temple University, where he teaches a variety of classes in the music studied department. He is currently the organist at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral; previously he served as Director of Music at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Philadelphia, and Cantor and Artistic Director of the Luther Memorial Church and Concert Series. He served as the dean of the Erie AGO; with the Philadelphia AGO, both Registrar and Treasurer.

You might see Erik on or off stage at the Collingswood Community Theater, Newtown Arts Company, or the Ritz Theater. He also can be heard playing violin with the Abington Symphony, trombone with the Jenkintown Community Band, or on rainy days, accordion and theremin in his living room.

HISTORY OF THE COMPETITION
This competition is being launched to support the work of composers of music for the pipe organ. Luna Nova Music in conjunction with its Belvedere Chamber Music Festival held each year at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Memphis, TN has sponsored an international competition for young classical composers since 2007. (Further information about this contest is available at HERE.) This new organ contest is designed to encourage composition in an area that does not receive as much attention as is given to competitions for piano and various orchestral instruments.

ELIGIBILITY
The contest welcomes participation by composers at the beginning of their careers as well as others with longer experience in the field. All entrants are asked to provide information about their academic and professional background in music on the online entry form.

ORGANS AT GRACE-ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MEMPHIS, TN
www.gracestlukes.org/the-organs
Grace-St. Luke's has two organs - one in the chancel (Schantz, 2000, Opus 2175, 3 manuals, 45 stops, 58 ranks, specifications and an antiphonal one in the balcony (Nichols & Simpson, 2017, 2 manuals, 11 stops, 13 ranks, specifications. 

HOW TO ENTER
1. Fill out the online entry form at the link posted three months before the deadline for entry.
2. The score must be electronically generated. Hand written scores are not eligible. Entries should be three to five minutes in length.
3. Entries should be written for solo pipe organ. Electronic elements cannot be included.
4. After completing the entry form entrants are required to submit one .pdf and one .mp3 of the entry work. The .mp3 can be computer generated or be of a live performance. The files should be sent by email to lunanovamusic@gmail.com.