Competitors

Competitors:

Cristian Ahlskog (Finland)
Jukka Aro (Finland)
Georg Friedrich (Germany)
Herman Jordaan (South Africa)
Arno Kerkhof (Holland)
Pawel Wisniewski (Canada)
Markku Mäkinen (Finland)
Hye-Sun Park (Republic of Korea)
Soomi-Hidemi Park (Japan)
David Szanto (Canada)
Erich Türk (Romania)
Paul M. Weber (USA)

Mr Jukka Aro is not able to play because of medical reasons.

	Christian Ahlskog I studied the organ for 2.5 years with Dan Lönnqvist at the Conservatorium of Music during the period 1996-98 and in the spring of 1999. Prior to this, I played the piano and the organ at the local College of Music. I have been studying at the Sibelius Academy for the past three years, completing my B grade examination in the organ in the spring of 2001. I have participated in numerous Master courses with teachers such as Gottfried Preller, Dale F. Voelker, Ludger Lohmann, Jacques van Oortmerssen, Pieter van Dijk, Olli Porthan and Kari Jussila. I give regular solo recitals and I have also studied improvisation, in both the older and the newer styles.
	Jukka Aro Born in 1974 in Helsinki. Piano studies at the Kuopio College of Music 1979-83, the Youth Section of the Sibelius Academy 1983-1993, the Performing Musician Study Programme in the Sibelius Academy 1993-1996, as well as in the study programme for organ in church music at the Sibelius Academy in 1998-2001 under Lasse Erkkilä and under Olli Porthan from 2001 on. In addition, he has participated in courses held, for instance, by Pieter van Dijk, Kati Hämäläinen, Kari Jussila and Jacques van Oortmerssen. Organ performances in numerous student concerts throughout Finland, in addition to some concerts of his own.
	Georg Johannes Matthias Friedrich • I was born in 1972 in Erlangen, Bavaria/Germany • During my school years I took lessons in piano, trumpet, organ and singing • Examination in 1992 and until 1993 doing the legal social work at a institute for handicapped people • From 1993 to 1995 studied pedagogic science • From 1995 to 1999 studied music with Jon Laukvik and Bernhard Haas in Stuttgart/Germany. Graduated in 1999 • Since 08/1999 have worked as cantor and organist in Bonn • Since 2000 have studied at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen (A-Diploma) • Have given concerts as soloist and also as continuo-player • Have participated in several courses with Ludger Lohmann, Jean Boyer, J. v. Oortmerssen, Gerd Zacher •Special interests are historical performance practice and the early romantic music • I find attractive the combination between organ playing and conducting, and this challenged and motivated me to apply for the Kotka competition.
	Herman Jordaan born in 1975 in Pretoria, South Africa. He obtained his B.Mus. degree, with distinction, at the University of Pretoria in 1997, where he studied organ with Wim Viljoen, and piano with Joseph Stanford. In the same year, he also obtained the 'Performer's Licentiate' from the University of South Africa (UNISA), with distinction. From 1997 to 1999 he studied with Jacques van Oortmerssen at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where he obtained the diploma 'Uitvoerend Musicus'. In 1996 he was awarded first prize at the UNISA National Organ Competition. Before that he had also won many prizes in various youth music competitions in South Africa. In 1999 he was awarded the first prize as well as the audience prize at the International Schnitger Organ Competition, held in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.As well as being very active on the South African music scene, he has had concert tours to Scandinavia and other parts of Europe. He has performed with some of the leading orchestras and soloists of South Africa, and works closely together with groups such as the Ars Nova Consort, Mass Appeal, and Banda di Giovanni, specialising in performances of works by Renaissance and Baroque composers. At the moment, he works mainly as concert and church organist, pianist, harpsichordist and chamber musician.
	Arno Kerkhof (1973) studied the organ, piano and Catholic Church music in Maastricht and continued his studies with Jacques v. Oortmerssen in Amsterdam. He graduated with honours in 1999. He attended lessons and master-classes with, inter alia, Jean Boyer, Hans-Ola Ericsson, Andres Cea-Galán and Andrea Marcon. Recitals in Alkmaar (Hagerbeer/Schnitger), Amsterdam (Schonat/Hagerbeer) and Zutphen (Bader).Participation in recordings for TV, radio and CD as soloist and accompanist. He is organist of the historical Binviagnat organ (1818) in Geulle, combines the function of conductor and organist in the two main churches of Sittard and Valkenburg (region of Maastricht), and he also conducts two choirs (mixed and male).
	Paul Wisniewski, born in 1974 in Warsaw, Poland. He began taking piano lessons at the age of six. From 1987 to 1990 Paul studied piano and organ at the Elsner's Music School in Warsaw. In 1991 he immigrated to Canada. From 1994 to 1998 he studied organ with John Tuttle at University of Toronto where he received a Bachelor of Music and later, in the year 2000, Bachelor of Education. During his university years he also studied choral conducting with Elmer Iseler. From 2001 to 2002 Paul served as the organist and music director of St. Paul's Basilica, Toronto. Currently, he is developing a music program at St. Padre Pio Roman-Catholic Church in Kleinburg, Ontario. He also teaches mathematics at Cardinal Leger Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario.
	Markku Mäkinen (born 1973) graduated from the Sibelius Academy with the Master of Music degree in 1999. He did his A grade in the organ in 1998 under Olli Porthan and in the harpsichord in 2001 under Kati Hämäläinen. He has furthered his studies at numerous master-level courses both in Finland and abroad. He continued his organ studies at the Amsterdam Conservatorium in 1998-2000 under Jacques van Oortmerssen, completing his soloist diploma (Tweede fase) with a special mention of “cum laude”. Markku Mäkinen has given solo concerts in Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands and Great Britain, as well as soloist in chamber music and orchestral concerts, in, for instance, ancient music ensembles such as Opus X and Kuudennen Kerroksen Orkesteri. In 1999, he gave his first concert under the aegis of the Sibelius Academy in the Kallio Church, Helsinki. Further, he has made recordings for the Finnish Broadcasting Union. In 1997 he won 3rd prize in the international Schnitger Organ Competition in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. In July of 2001, Markku Mäkinen taught and gave concerts at the international festival in Oundle, United Kingdom.
	Hye-Sun Park born 14.6.1971 in Inchon, South Korea March 1990 – February 1996 Music studies at Ewha University, Soul, with Prof. Moon-Kyung Chae. June 1999 - Organ diploma studies with Prof. Wolfgang Zerer at Hamburg Conservatorium. February 1998 Cembalo Vordiplom diploma studies with Prof. Gisela Gumz at Hamburg Conservatorium. Early 2000. Organ concert examination with Prof. Wolfgang Zerer. August 2000 Prize in 13th Brügge International Organ Competition (Concours Musica Antiqua - 13de Internationale Orgelwedstrijd J. S. Bach) November 2000 Invitation concert, Kyung-Dong church, Soul, South Korea October 2001 First part of concert examination in Cappel January 2002 Concert in Berlin’s Gedächtniskirche church January 2002 Second part of concert examination in Johannskirche church, Hamburg Many concerts and courses in Europe and South Korea.
	Soomi-Hidemi Park 18.06.1970 Born in Osaka, Japan 1977-1989 Primary, Junior and Senior education in Osaka 1989-1993 Piano studies at the Osaka Conservatorium 1994-1996 Further organ studies at the Osaka Conservatorium 1997-2000 Organ studies at the Cologne Conservatorium 2000 Cologne Conservatorium Diploma 2002- Studies in Music Pedagogy at the Cologne Conservatorium A wide range of concert performances in Germany and in Japan.
	David Szanto has received the coveted Artist Diploma for his studies with James David Christie at The Boston Conservatory.He is a doctoral candidate in organ performance at New England Conservatory, where he studied with William Porter. He has served on the faculty of the Department of Music History and Musicology at the New England Conservatory and holds degrees from the University of Kansas and the University of Toronto.Having concertized in Canada and the United States, he is Director of Music and Organist at St.Mary of the Assumption Parish, Milford, Massachusetts.
	Erich Türk was born 1972 in Cluj- Napoca, Romania, and studied organ at the local "Gheorghe Dima" Music Academy with Ursula Philippi as well as choir conducting with Florentin Mihăescu. He completed his studies in Vienna with Michael Rădulescu (organ) and Gordon Murray (harpsichord) and attended several harpsichord, organ and continuo master classes in Portugal, France, Germany, Switzerland and Moscow. Between 1994-1999 he was organist and choir conductor at the Lutheran Church in Medias. Since 1995 he has been teaching basso continuo and organ at the "Gheorghe Dima" Music Academy in Cluj. As soloist as well as member of the Baroque Ensemble "Transylvania" he has performed in many concerts in Romania and abroad (Netherlands. Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Moldavia). Some of his performances have been recorded and broadcast by various radio and TV companies (Radio Cluj and Radio Bucharest, ORF/ A, AVRO and NCRV Radio/NL, Duna TV/ H. Radio3 Belgium). At the J.S. Bach International Organ Competition in Bruges in 2000 he was awarded the 2nd prize and the audience's prize. Together with the Baroque Ensemble "Transylvania" he has recorded a very successful CD with West-European and Transylvanian baroque music.
	Paul M. Weber Education Bachelor of Music, cum laude, Lawrence University, 2000, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. Hochschule Ar Musik und darstellende Kunst, Salzburg, Austria, 1996-1997, one semester of study, ordentliche Hörer. Candidate for the Masters of Music, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Competitions and Awards Arthur Poister Competition in Organ Performance, Syracuse, New York, USA. - Second Prize, 2000. Region VI (AGO) Competition in Organ Performance, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. - First Prize, 1999. Twin Cities Chapter (AGO) Competition in Organ Performance, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. -First Prize, 1999. Bruce Brackenridge Scholarship for International Study, utilized at the Cathedral Church of St. Chad, Lichfield, England, 1998. Performances National Convention of the American Guild Of Organists, Seattle, Washington, 2000. Luther Seminary, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1999. National Public Radio, "Pipedreams", 1999. St. Norbert's Abbey, De Pere, Wisconsin, 2001. Related Activities Harpsichord Continuo Dido and Aeneas, Yale University, 2002. Le Nozze di Figaro, Lawrence University, 2000. Brandenburg Concerto #6, Lawrence, 2000. Mass in B Minor, Lawrence, 1999. Magnnificat, C. P. E. Bach, Lawrence, 1998. Founder, Collegium Musicum early music ensemble, Lawrence University, 1997.