International Organ Academy Kitzbühel

Active participants have daily lessons and work with all of the teachers. In addition to organ lessons there is piano and technique tuition for organists; topics such as registration and repertoire insights are covered as required.

The week is framed by concerts given by the teachers, and a joint hike offers the chance to get to know the Kitzbühel Alps.

Yes. An improvisation workshop is part of the course week every year. It is led by an improviser who also sits on the jury of the Maria Hofer Organ Competition; the line-up changes from year to year.

The name and the date will be announced in good time.

Good practice facilities are available at no additional cost.

Please ask the academy office which instruments are open for practice, how access is arranged and what practice times you can expect.

Lessons are held in German and English. If you are not confident in either language, please contact the academy office before registering.

For preparation, it is useful to bring your own scores, organ shoes, a pencil and paper for notes. Sturdy shoes and weatherproof clothing are sensible for the hike. Please ask the academy office about any binding requirements.

The course programme you prepare is already stated at registration. If you would like to record your lessons for your own use, please ask the office or your teacher beforehand.

Your own organ shoes are customary and recommended for working at the instruments. Light shoes with a smooth leather or suede sole and a narrow but flat-surfaced heel work best; high or pointed heels make pedal playing difficult. Please ask the academy office whether bringing your own pair is a binding requirement.

Comfortable clothing and a warm layer are recommended for everyday course activities, as churches can be cool even in July.

Please ask the academy office in advance about any binding dress requirements for the rounds of the Maria Hofer Organ Competition.

Using the registration form on this page you provide your contact details, your current teacher, the type of participation (active or passive) and your detailed course programme (composer, work, opus or catalogue number), and you upload your CV as a PDF (max. 10 MB). For active participation, the link to a short video of your playing is added to that.

It is best to prepare your repertoire list before you open the form.

For active participation a short video is part of the registration: no more than 30 seconds, and a spontaneous phone video is enough. It is not about a produced recording, but about an impression of your playing.

Upload the video to YouTube (“unlisted”), Vimeo, Google Drive or Dropbox and enter only the link in the form — nothing is uploaded to us. The link must stay reachable until the end of the academy. For passive participation no video is needed.

You prepare two pieces of your own choice — one of them by J. S. Bach — that suit the competition organs in Kitzbühel (Pirchner) and Hopfgarten (Metzler). The competition takes place in two concert rounds: the preliminary round on Thursday in Hopfgarten, the final on Saturday in Kitzbühel. A work by J. S. Bach must be prepared for the final round.

Please ask the office whether you may bring your own registrant or whether one is provided, and how much warm-up time is scheduled on the competition organs.

For accommodation the International Organ Academy Kitzbühel works together with KitzSki Living — modern studios and apartments with self check-in right at the Hahnenkamm cable car. Participants receive a 25% discount; we send the booking link with the discount together with the letter of acceptance. In addition, Kitzbühel Tourismus arranges individual guesthouses and hotels in Kitzbühel on request, Hinterstadt 18, 6370 Kitzbühel, T +43 5356 66660, servus@kitzbuehel.com. Book early — July is high season.

Two of the four teaching organs are in Hopfgarten and Aurach; please ask the office how travel to these venues is arranged.