Young Composers Competition 2025
This competition is open to young composers of new pieces in sacred music.
CONDITIONS
1.Entrants must be aged 25 or under at the time of the Festival event.
2.Entrants must be resident, working or studying in Scotland.
3.Compositions can be in any style of music but must be original compositions for choir, and/or for choir with organ or piano.
4.Entrants may submit one or two settings from the selection of 4 texts provided by the Foundation (see below). Alternatively, composers may submit a text of their own choosing for approval. Alternative texts should be submitted for approval to [email protected] by May 1st, 2025
ENTRY
1.The opening date for entering the competition is 1st February, 2025.
2.The closing date for completed submission is 1st June, 2025.
3.All entries will be judged anonymously. No means of identification – including dedications -- should appear on the composition.
4.The compositions should be submitted as an email attachment using the title of the piece as the file name.
5.All personal details must appear on a separate attachment, and should include this signed declaration
"I will be under the age of 25 on 11/12/25 and resident/working/studying in Scotland".
6.Entries should be sent to [email protected]
JUDGING
The competition will be judged in the first instance by a panel appointed by the Edinburgh Sacred Arts Foundation. The panel will forward the 10 highest scoring submissions to this year’s Principal Adjudicator, Paul Mealor LVO, CStJ, FRSE who will select the prize winners, and may make up to three awards of ‘Highly Commended’
PRIZES and PERFORMANCE
First Prize £500
Second Prize £300
Third Prize £200
Both prize winning and highly commended pieces will be performed by the Sacred Arts Festival Singers at a lunchtime recital in Canongate Kirk on Mon 11th August at which Paul Mealor will be present.
This competition is open to young composers of new pieces in sacred music.
CONDITIONS
1.Entrants must be aged 25 or under at the time of the Festival event.
2.Entrants must be resident, working or studying in Scotland.
3.Compositions can be in any style of music but must be original compositions for choir, and/or for choir with organ or piano.
4.Entrants may submit one or two settings from the selection of 4 texts provided by the Foundation (see below). Alternatively, composers may submit a text of their own choosing for approval. Alternative texts should be submitted for approval to [email protected] by May 1st, 2025
ENTRY
1.The opening date for entering the competition is 1st February, 2025.
2.The closing date for completed submission is 1st June, 2025.
3.All entries will be judged anonymously. No means of identification – including dedications -- should appear on the composition.
4.The compositions should be submitted as an email attachment using the title of the piece as the file name.
5.All personal details must appear on a separate attachment, and should include this signed declaration
"I will be under the age of 25 on 11/12/25 and resident/working/studying in Scotland".
6.Entries should be sent to [email protected]
JUDGING
The competition will be judged in the first instance by a panel appointed by the Edinburgh Sacred Arts Foundation. The panel will forward the 10 highest scoring submissions to this year’s Principal Adjudicator, Paul Mealor LVO, CStJ, FRSE who will select the prize winners, and may make up to three awards of ‘Highly Commended’
PRIZES and PERFORMANCE
First Prize £500
Second Prize £300
Third Prize £200
Both prize winning and highly commended pieces will be performed by the Sacred Arts Festival Singers at a lunchtime recital in Canongate Kirk on Mon 11th August at which Paul Mealor will be present.
Paul Mealor LVO CStJ FRSE is one of the world’s most ‘performed’ living composers and has composed music for some of the most important UK state and Royal occasions of the last ten years including two works for the Coronation (2023) – his Kyrie for Sir Bryn Terfel was the first ever setting of the Welsh Language at a Coronation, and three works for The Honours of Scotland Service (2023).
He has also written music for film and television including the score to the BAFTA-Award winning ‘Wonders of the Celtic Deep’, three operas, four symphonies, concerti, chamber music, much choral music and songs, including the 2011 Christmas No 1, ‘Wherever You Are’ for Gareth Malone and the Military Wives Choir.
He has received many awards and honours for his work including honorary degrees, fellowships and in January 2024 was appointed to The Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by HM King Charles III for his outstanding contribution to Royal Music. He is the first composer to receive this accolade since Sir Arthur Bliss in 1969 and before him, Sir Arnold Bax and Sir Edward Elgar.
He has also written music for film and television including the score to the BAFTA-Award winning ‘Wonders of the Celtic Deep’, three operas, four symphonies, concerti, chamber music, much choral music and songs, including the 2011 Christmas No 1, ‘Wherever You Are’ for Gareth Malone and the Military Wives Choir.
He has received many awards and honours for his work including honorary degrees, fellowships and in January 2024 was appointed to The Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by HM King Charles III for his outstanding contribution to Royal Music. He is the first composer to receive this accolade since Sir Arthur Bliss in 1969 and before him, Sir Arnold Bax and Sir Edward Elgar.
2025 Competition Recital
1.15pm Monday 11th August
at Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile
Winning compositions will be performed by
the Sacred Arts Festival Singers
and prizes awarded by Professor Paul Mealor LVO, FRSE, CStJ
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TEXTS
The Prophet’s Prayer (from Habakkuk 3: 17-19) Though the fig tree may not blossom, Though the labour of the olive may fail, Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And make me walk on high hills. Benedictus (from Luke 1) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel Who has come to his people and set them free. In God’s tender compassion The dawn from on high will break upon us Guiding our feet into the way of peace Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel Johann Peter Lange 1802-1884 The Lord of Life The Lord of life is risen; Sing, Easter heralds, sing! He bursts His rocky prison; Wide let the triumph ring! In death no longer lying, He rose, the Prince, today; Life of the dead and dying, He triumphed o’er decay. The Lord of life is risen, And love no longer grieves; In ruin lies death’s prison, Sing, heralds, Jesus lives! We hear the blessèd greeting; Salvation’s work is done! We worship Thee, repeating, Life for the dead is won! |
Clive Sansom The Shepherds’ Carol We stood on the hills, Lady, Our day's work done, Watching the frosted meadows That winter had won. The evening was calm, Lady, The air so still. Silence more lovely than music Folded the hill. There was a star, Lady, Shone in the night, Larger than Venus it was And bright, so bright. Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady, It seemed to us then Telling of God being born In the world of men. And so we have come, Lady, Our day's work done. Our love, our hopes, ourselves We give to your son. |
This competition is supported by generous financial assistance from
Geoff and Mary Ball
Edinburgh Society of Organists, and Royal College of Organists.
Geoff and Mary Ball
Edinburgh Society of Organists, and Royal College of Organists.
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