Manuel Pschorn | mosel musikfestival

Program: Works including those by Hermann Schroeder, Engelbert Humperdinck, Richard Wagner, Bedrich Smetana

Organ Competition: Winner of the Hermann-Schroeder Prize

19 young organists from seven countries participated in this international organ competition. After three rounds, the first-place winner was determined: Manuel Pschorn from Wiesbaden.

In addition to the prize money, he is offered a concert engagement at the mosel musikfestival as a co-organizer of the Hermann-Schroeder Prize. That evening, Manuel Pschorn will perform in the Konstantin Basilica – at the organ where he won his victory. This was already the tenth edition of the international competition for the Hermann-Schroeder Prize; the renowned organ competition is organized by the Hermann-Schroeder Society and the mosel musikfestival. It consisted of an initial round via video submission, followed by a second round at the Abbey of Himmerod, and finally a public final concert in Trier. The winner is church music student Manuel Pschorn. As the first-place winner, he receives €4,000 as well as a concert appearance in this festival season. The 1999-born organist from Wiesbaden received his first organ lessons from Petra Mohr and Jörg Endebrock and is currently studying church music in a master's program with a major in organ under Professors Carsten Wiebusch and Stefan Viegelahn at the "Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt." He has participated in masterclasses with David Franke, Wolfgang Zehrer, and Daniel Roth. Manuel Pschorn was a 2024 scholar of the Richard Wagner Verband International e.V. and is also supported by the Deutschlandstipendium. He won 2nd prize at the Laubach Organ Competition of the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau in 2016, as well as 2nd prize and the audience prize at the organ festival "Fugato" in Bad Homburg (2022). He has performed with orchestras such as the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra, the Bach Orchestra Wiesbaden, and has appeared as an organist in venues including the Kurhaus Wiesbaden, the Elisabeth Church in Marburg, and St. Michaelis in Hamburg.

In addition to his great passion for the organ, Manuel Pschorn has been singing in various choirs and vocal ensembles since his time in the Wiesbaden Boys' Choir. As a choir leader, organ accompanist, and conductor, he works extensively in the area of choral music, for example with the Bach Choir in Wiesbaden, where he is also active as an organist and musical assistant to cantor Niklas Sikner at Luther Church.

Manuel Pschorn – Organ