David Kiefer wins Silbermann organ competition

The 28-year-old David Kiefer has won this year's Gottfried Silbermann Organ Competition. The German church musician convinced the jury in the final ahead of his fellow countryman Jannik Gerdes and Jakub Moneta from Poland, according to the Gottfried Silbermann Society. Kiefer works in Cologne and Freiburg, Gerdes is studying church music in Leipzig.

There were five young organists from four countries in the final round. The audience prize went to Hanna Cho from South Korea. The four prizewinners were to demonstrate their skills in front of an audience once again on Sunday afternoon at the final concert of the Silbermann Days in Freiberg Cathedral together with the Hanover Boys' Choir.

"Exceptionally high level of playing"

The competition prize money amounts to 16,000 euros, 7,000 euros of which will go to the winner. They also receive the opportunity to play concerts on various Silbermann organs and other famous historical instruments.

A total of 24 young organists qualified for this year's Silbermann Organ Competition. "The level of playing was exceptionally high and the encounters with top-class young participants, the jury from all over the world, a colorful, entertaining program and the most beautiful organ sounds were a privilege and a pleasure," summed up jury chairman Henry Fairs.