RCYO/Quimby Competition 2019 Report
The Utah Valley chapter of the American Guild of Organists (UVAGO), jointly with the Salt Lake chapter, hosted a chapter-level competition in the Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists (RCYO) on February 26, 2019. Amber Dahlberg was awarded first place, and Riley Palmer received second place. Amber will compete as a chapter winner at the 2019 West Region AGO Convention in Orange County, CA this summer.
Held at The Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Salt Lake City on the Bigelow Opus 35, a 3- manual, 33-voice, 40-rank organ, judges for the competition were Dr. Clay Christiansen, Dr. Gabriele Terrone, and Dr. Kenneth Udy. Jennifer Morgan of the Utah Valley chapter and Heidi Alley of the Salt Lake chapter served as competition coordinators.
Amber Dahlberg performed “CORONATION” as a hymn accompaniment, “Trio Sonata No. 2 in C Minor; Largo and Allegro” by J. S. Bach (BWV 526), “King David’s Dance” by Stephen Paulus, and “Variations de Concert” by Joseph Bonnet. Amber is a junior at Brigham Young University where she is studying organ performance with Dr. Don Cook. This past Spring she attended an organ study abroad in France where she had the opportunity to play thirteen of the notable organs. She is a carillonneur for BYU’s Centennial Carillon Tower and plays weekly recitals and for graduations. With her love of music, Amber is looking forward to continuing her performing, teaching organ and piano, and having a studio of her own in the future. She also enjoys show jumping horses and spending time outdoors with her family.
Riley Palmer performed “CORONATION” as a hymn accompaniment, “Suite Gothique, Opus 25, Movement II” by Léon Boëllmann, “Three Pieces for Organ, Movement II” by Calvin Hampton, and “Prelude and Fugue in D Major” by J. S. Bach (BWV 532). Born in 1998, Riley Palmer is currently an organ student of Dr. Daniel Kerr at BYU Idaho. He has studied in the past with Julie Eberhard and Dr. Linda S. Margetts, and has been a student of music for years. He has performed many personal recitals, accompanied and sung in a number of choirs, and has also played with the YACP Orchestra. Currently on an off semester, he is teaching beginning organ lessons in his hometown of Farmington, Utah.