Swedish Organist Johannes Skoog Wins the 6th Canadian International Organ Competition

Skoog wins $25,000 CAD as well as a recording deal and North American management

The sixth edition of the Canadian International Organ Competition recently came to a close in Montréal. The competition presented several of the instruments available in the city, including those at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and the Maison symphonique de Montréal.

Swedish organist Johannes Skoog was named the winner of the competition, and he received $25,000 CAD — as well as the recording and distribution of a CD on the ATMA Classique label, 3-year career management services for North America by Karen McFarlane Artists, and a 3-year career development program by the CIOC.

Second Prize ($15,000 CAD) went to the American organist Henry Webb, while Third Prize ($10,000 CAD) went to the French organist Alma Bettencourt.

In 2024, the competition jury comprised Jean-Willy Kunz (Canada/France, chair) Kevin Bowyer (UK), Isabelle Demers (Canada), Hans-Ola Ericsson (Sweden), Bernard Foccroulle (Belgium), Marnie Giesbrecht (Canada), David Hurd (USA), Olivier Latry (France), and Kimberly Marshall (USA).

Hailing originally from Stockholm, Johannes Skoog holds degrees from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, the Paris Conservatoire, and the Staatliche Musikhochschule in Stuttgart, with teachers including Olivier Latry, Nathan Laube, Louis Robilliard, Michel Bouvard, Thierry Escaich, and Mathias Kjellgren.

At the Paris Conservatoire, he was the only student ever to achieve the highest grade in the organ performance exam (mention très bien à l’unanimité avec félicitations du jury) in both years of the master’s program.