UK Young Theatre Organist of the Year (YTOY)

History

Back in 1978 the London Chapter of ATOS set in motion the Young Theatre Organist of the Year Competition (YTOY), which over the years has given valuable performing and social experience to many aspiring organists.   Some, including Janet Dowsett, Martin Harris, Michael Wooldridge, Richard Hills and Nicholas Martin are now well known to us all, but there are many more who have enjoyed and benefited hugely from the experience.  Soon after, having seen the success of our UK event, our then American colleagues launched the ATOS international Young Theatre Organist Competition.

Following the success of his successful teaching programme at Rye College, and much encouraged by American organist John Ledwon, Michael Wooldridge was keen to support youngsters from all around the country by promoting the YTOY, not only to encourage them to play and improve but also to make what we hope will be life long musical friendships, just as it was for him when he won it back in 1980!

Michael coordinated the relaunch of  the event on Sunday 27th July 2014 at the Cinema Organ Society’s magnificent 3/11 Compton Organ at Fentham Hall, Hampton-in-Arden near Solihull.  Michael was supported by the rest of the committee,  the Cinema Organ Society’s team at Fentham Hall, Michael’s Rye Wurlitzer Academy colleague Richard Moore and our three judges Len Rawle, David Lobban and Damon Willetts.

In 2017 we introduced a new ‘Seniors’ competition for organists aged 19 to 24. This is to complement the main YTOY competition and gives us the opportunity to continue to support these wonderful young stars of the future.

The competition will still continue, presented by the Wurlitzer Heritage Trust, following the change of charities in 2024.

Year	YTOY Winner	YTOY Seniors Winner
2019	Lucy Griffiths	Will Shaw
2017	Robert Eldridge	Aaron Hawthorne

The Senior competition was introduced in 2017 in addition to the original competition. 

Year	YTOY Winner	Year	YTOY Winner
2016	Lewis Scott	1993	Richard Hills
2015	Declan Poole	1992	Julian Lovegrove
2014	Thomas Pickering	1991	Joanna Clark
2006	Mary Ann Wootten	1990	David Easton
2004	Elaine Dawes	1989	Mark Aston
2003	Ian House	1988	Christopher Bannister
2002	Mark Thompson	1987	Benjamin Vine
2001	Adam Evans	1986	Martin Harris
2000	Tom Horton	1985	Peter Holt
1999	Matthew Bason	1984	Paul Sheffield
1998	Joanne Baldwin	1983	David Redfern
1997	Simon Pattison	1982	John Barlow
1996	Robert Sudall	1981	Rodney Pooley
1995	Richard Openshaw	1980	Michael Wooldridge
1994	Catherine Drummond	1979	Stephen Vincent
		1978	Pauline Dixon

Awards

In addition to the competition prizes there are also two further awards.

If you require further information about the UK Young Theatre Organist of the Year, please contact Michael Wooldridge at michael@wokingwurlitzer.co.uk