Daria Burlak, prize-winner Grand Prix de Chartres

Daria Burlak is a winner of the Second Prix of the 26^th International Organ Competition Grand Prix de Chartres, which concluded in early September of 2018. She became a prize-winner after going through a rigorous knockout stage: out of 30 participants representing 13 countries only three made it to the finals. Quarter-finals and semi-finals were hosted by the Church of St Eustache in Paris, which houses the largest organ in France. The finals took place at the monumental Chartres Cathedral, a wonderful example of Gothic architecture dating back to the 13^th century. Austrian organist Johannes Zeinler won the Grand Prix.

The competition in Chartres was founded in 1971 and is reputed to be one of the most prestigious competitions for organists. Although it was initially conceived as an annual event, it has taken place once every two years since 1976. The musicians compete in interpretation and improvisation, their programmes feature music spanning from the Baroque epoch to contemporary works, including those written specifically for the competition. The performances are evaluated by famed organists, composers, and teachers. Such prominent figures as Pierre Cochereau, Gaston Litaize, Marie-Claire Alain, Philippe Lefebvre, André Isoir, Gilbert Amy and other French musicians have presided the jury over the years. Some of the prize-winners of the competition became members of the jury later on. For example, this year’s jury was presided by the competition’s very first winner Daniel Roth. The Mariinsky Theatre has hosted many of the Grand Prix de Chartres competition prize-winners, including Gunnar Idenstam, Benjamin Righetti, David Cassan, Karol Mossakowski, and Thomas Ospital.