I am excited to be able to help support Australian composers. This competition aims to provide a means for these composers to showcase their work to a wider audience, with the opportunity to further market it and themselves.
Adelaide has long been known as the city of churches, and this is supported by a strong assortment of church choirs. Our love for choirs sees us performing music from all around the world, and from every era. Some of our favourite works have been new, modern compositions by living artists that we are able to form a connection with. The community is keen to introduce Australian composers to the possibilities we have to offer, and support them in working with us.
In conversation with some of my composing peers, I have developed this competition in order to provide the best opportunity for learning and experience. As such, all submissions will be assessed and a shortlist will be determined. Those composers that have made the shortlist will get an opportunity to workshop their piece with a choir and this choir will perform those shortlisted works at a concert in front of a panel of judges who will then decide the prize-winners. All performed pieces will be recorded and these recordings given to the respective composer.
1st Prize: $600
2nd Prize: $300
3rd Prize: $100
Composition Criteria
- Between 3 and 5 minutes in duration
- Choir and Organ OR Acapella Choir
- Classical, sacred anthem (for example, Palestrina – Sicut Cervus, Philip Stopford – Ave Verum, Charles Wood – O thou the central orb)
- Composers choice of text (preferably Latin or English)
- Composition should be new. Not previously performed or presented for a competition.
Works need to be submitted before the 01/07/2023 to sean.tanner.music@gmail.com. Submissions must consist of a pdf of the score, as well as an audio file (mp3 or midi).