Daniel Carroll and Daniel Colaner Win Top Prizes in 2025 Taylor Organ Competition
Congratulations to Daniel Carroll, who won the first prize of $10,000 and the $1,000 prize for best performance of the commissioned work by composer Chelsea Chen in the Taylor Organ Competition on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Carroll was joined by fellow Curtis organ student Daniel Colaner, who was awarded the $1,000 Bach prize for his performance. Established by the Atlanta Chapter of the American Guild of Organists to honor long-time chapter member Elizabeth Abbott Taylor, the competition has fostered the talents of emerging organists since 2012 and helps preserve and promote the rich tradition of organ music.
The internationally acclaimed jury consisted of Dr. Jesse Eschbach, Dr. Kimberly Marshall, and Dr. Stephen Price, who each gave high praise for the performances of both Curtis organists. Other students in the competition represented Rice University and the University of Kansas, along with a high school junior from St. Paul, Minnesota. Daniel Carroll is the William S. Mulherin and Joseph F. Baker Fellow and entered Curtis in 2023. Daniel Colaner is the Dr. Mi-Wha Lee Fellow and entered Curtis in 2024. Both students are students of Alan Morrison (Organ ’91 and Accompanying ’93), the Haas Charitable Trust Chair in Organ Studies.
Learn more about the Taylor Organ Competition and the other finalists HERE.
Portraits of Daniel Carroll and Daniel Colaner courtesy of Nichole MCH Photography. Photos of the competitors, Mr. Carroll, and Mr. Colaner, courtesy of Matthew Brown, HonRSCM, Director of Music at St. Luke’s Atlanta.
