Student Competition

Results of the 2017 AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists

Congratulations to first place winner Ben Kerswell of St. Olaf College!
Ben is a student of Dr. Cathy Rodland.



Ben Kerswell, a junior at St. Olaf College, is majoring in organ performance. Before studying at St. Olaf with Dr. Catherine Rodland, Ben studied in New Jersey with Joanne Rodland for five years. Ben has performed solo recitals at The Church of St. Louis, King of France in St. Paul, MN; Central Synagogue in New York City; and West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, NJ. For the past three summers, he has held organist positions at Pompton Valley Presbyterian Church in NJ and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Pequannock, NJ. He now serves as organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in Northfield, MN.

The First Prize of $2,000 is generously provided by the Schubert Club in collaboration
with its Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition.

Winner Ben Kerswell with judges (Chad Winterfeldt, Laura Edman and Tom Ferry); his teacher,
Cathy Rodland; and other competition attendees.

For more information, please contact Dr. Mary Newton, Competition Coordinator, mayanewton@yahoo.com or visit
https://www.agohq.org/performance-competitions/rcyo