FIRST PRIZE
Benton Blasingame
$10,000 award and a solo recital in Atlanta

Benton Blasingame

Benton Blasingame, a native of Collinsville, Ill., is a senior at the Eastman School of Music and a recent graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Mich. Upon graduation from Interlochen, he received a Young Artist Award, the Academy’s highest honor. In May of 2007, Benton became a Colleague of the AGO. Benton won first prize in the high school division of the 2007 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition. There he won top prizes for hymn playing and hymn improvisation. In 2010, Benton won the national competition for the John R. Rodland Memorial Scholarship for church music.

Mr. Blasingame performed the following pieces:

Samuel Gaskin

Samuel Gaskin is organist for University United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Tex. Samuel has been a prizewinner in the 2007 André Marchal International Organ Competition in Biarritz, France, the 2008 Miami International Organ Competition, and the 2008 Carlene Neihart International Organ Competition in Kansas City. In 2007, Samuel was awarded first prize at the French Organ Music Seminar / Langlais Competition in New York City. In 2006, at age fourteen, Samuel became the youngest to be awarded first prize in the high school division of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition in Wethersfield, Conn. Samuel has performed recitals in cities across the country, including special guest artist appearances at the 2007 AGO Region VI Convention in Lincoln, Neb., and the 2007 Music at Midday Concert Series at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C. Samuel studied organ with Christina Harmon of Dallas from 2006 until 2010. He now studies organ with David Heller at Trinity University in San Antonio, Tex.

Mr. Gaskin performed the following pieces:

The next Taylor Organ Competition will take place in 2015.