Tingshuo Yang wins 2026 IAO-RCO Organ Playing Competition
Tingshuo Yang has won the 2026 Incorporated Association of Organists–Royal College of Organists (IAO-RCO) Organ Playing Competition, which took place during the IAO Music Festival in Bristol from 26 to 30 July.
Open to organists aged between 18 and 26, the competition concluded with a final at Bristol Cathedral. Yang performed works by Franck, Vierne and Duruflé’s in his winning recital.
The recent St John’s College, Cambridge graduate received the £1,200 first prize. The other finalists were Marcus McDevitt, Senior Organ Scholar at New College, Oxford, and Conor McGlone, recently appointed Assistant Director of Music at Birmingham Cathedral. Both received £400.
In addition to the cash prizes, the competition offers prize winners recital opportunities at Birmingham Town Hall, Bristol Cathedral, Selwyn College, Cambridge and Great St Mary’s, the University Church, Cambridge.
Elizabeth Lesan received the Susi Jeans Memorial Prize for her performance in the semi-final.
The competition was judged by Sarah MacDonald, Immediate Past President of the Royal College of Organists; Mark Lee, President of the Incorporated Association of Organists and Director of Music at Bristol Cathedral; and former IAO President Peter King, who joined the panel for the final.
MacDonald said, ‘This year’s competitors brought imagination, insight and flair to their performances. Every player demonstrated consummate musicianship and impressive discipline, which made our job as adjudicators quite difficult.’
Lee added, ‘The competition offers an important platform for talented young organists, and it was wonderful to hear them bring the instruments and repertoire so vividly to life. Congratulations to our winner and to every competitor who contributed to such a memorable event.’