Longwood Gardens recently announced the 10 performers who will vie for the $40,000 first prize in the second Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition.

The individuals, some of whom hail from as far away as Europe and Australia, will compete on the 10,010-pipe Longwood Organ for the Pierre S. du Pont prize.

According to Chadds Ford Live, the top five competitors from the preliminary rounds, held June 14-15, will participate in the final round on June 18.

“We are pleased to have these 10 outstanding young organists competing in the second Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition,” said Executive Director Paul B. Redman in the release.

“They are truly among the finest young talents in the organ world today. We look forward to hearing them perform and to helping further their music careers.”

The winner also receives a contract with Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists, and a 2016-17 performance at Longwood.

Second place receives the Firmin Swinnen $15,000 prize, and third place receives the Clarence Snyder $5,000 prize. New this year is the Audience Choice Prize of $1,000.

A distinguished panel of experts will judge this year’s competition. Michael Barone, executive producer and host of the popular radio show Pipedreams, will serve as the host.

The Longwood Organ is among the world’s largest concert organs, with 146 ranks and 10,010 pipes. After a seven-year restoration completed in 2011, the organ has been restored to its original 1930 condition and incorporates today’s most innovative technology.

The 10 participants, all of whom are in their 20s, are:

• Alcee Chriss III, USA, an alumnus of Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
• Thomas Gaynor, New Zealand, a student of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.
• Michael Thomas Crisostomo Hey, USA, a graduate of The Juilliard School.
• Ryan Kennedy, USA, a fourth-year student at Juilliard.
• Colin MacKnight, USA, a final-year student at Juilliard.
• Virgile Monin, France, studied at the Conservatory of Nantes.
• Adam Pajan, USA, received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree, studied at Furman and Yale.
• Alessandro Pittorino, Australia, a student at Julliard.
• Joshua Stafford, USA, graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and Yale School of Music.
• Greg Zelek, USA, a graduate student at Juilliard.

Read more about the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition on Chadds Ford Live here.