The AGO regional competitions began with the 1992-1994 cycle as an offshoot of the AGO NYACOP. Prior to 1992, younger players were able to enter NYACOP, however, as NYACOP became more demanding, it was apparent that a separate competition was needed for younger players. Since 2002, the AGO/Quimby Regional Competitions for Young Organists have been made possible by a generous grant from Michael Quimby, President, Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc. The RCYO competitions are held in odd-numbered years, in two separate stages. The 2023 Southeast Region competition will be held from 3:00 to 5:30 pm on Sunday afternoon, 18 June on the Schantz organ at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church and the winner will appear in concert at Reid Memorial on Wednesday 21 June at 10:30 am. Mark Dickens is the Competition Chair.
First Place – $1,000
Second Place – $500
Abigail Crafton
Abigail Crafton is a high school sophomore. She has studied piano since the age of three, singing since the age of four, and began studying the trumpet in elementary school. At the age of ten she began the organ, which she requested when she was three. Abigail currently plays principal trumpet in the Armstrong Youth Orchestra, and has been first chair Georgia All-State in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Abigail is the Organ Scholar at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, where she also sings soprano. Abigail currently studies organ with Dr. Paul Thornock.
Nathan Barcelona
Nathan Dale Barcelona lives in Clemson, SC and is completing his senior year in high school. Nathan won his first organ scholarship in 2019 with the Young Organist Collaborative, and went on to win the Pennington Brown scholarship in 2022. Nathan has also been featured on Michael Barone's Pipedreams Live! at Methuen Memorial Music Hall. Nathan has worked in the past as the organ scholar under Eric Dolch at St. Stanislaus Latin Mass Catholic Church in Nashua, NH, and played for Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Rochester, NH. He aspires to a career in pipe organ and church music.