Chester Music Society is pleased to announce its sponsorship of a new competition.
The Chester Young Composer Competition 2012 is open to young people aged 21 years of age or younger on 30 June 2012 and whose home address is within 40 miles “as the crow flies” of the City of Chester. There is no lower age limit. Entries must be from individuals only.
The Composition must be a choral work on a Christmas theme and the music must be entirely their own work.
Click here to see more information and to download a copy of the application form. Closing date for entries is 30 June 2012.
The winning entry will be performed at The Chester Music Society Choir’s Christmas concerts on 17 and 18 December 2012.
Competition Details
Entrants: Applications are invited from young people (referred to as You or Your in this prospectus) for entry to the Chester Young Composer Competition which is organised and promoted by Chester Music Society (The Society). Entrants must be 21 years of age or younger on 30 June 2012. There is no lower age limit. Entries must be from individuals only.
Eligibility: Your home address must be within 40 miles “as the crow flies” of the City of Chester. (In the event of dispute distances will be determined by reference to http://www.freemaptools.com/how-far-is-itbetween.htm)
The Composition: must be a choral work on a Christmas theme and the music must be entirely your own work. Entries may be submitted in manuscript or generated by computer software such as Sibelius. Maximum performing length should be 5 minutes.
It must be written for SATB adult voices and have a fully-written accompaniment for piano. Additional accompaniment written for organ or small orchestral ensemble may also be submitted although this is not a requirement. The entry must include one copy of your composition and the signed official entry form. Sound recordings are not acceptable (except as created by Sibelius as part of the file). The composition must be accompanied by lyrics: you can either write them yourself or use someone else’s lyrics, but only if those lyrics are not protected by copyright. You confirm that the music and lyrics are your own original work or, if you have not used your own lyrics, that they are not protected by copyright. You also confirm that you have obtained all permissions necessary from any third party, and that no fees will be payable for the use of the composition or lyrics in connection with the prize. You agree to waive your moral rights.
Copyright: You will retain copyright in your entry; however, by entering, you licence The Chester Music Society a worldwide royalty-free perpetual licence to edit, publish and use your entry in any and all media (including print, digital and online) for the prize, publicity and news purposes. You also grant The Chester Music Society (and any musicians working with The Chester Music Society) the right to amend, arrange, adapt and perform in public your entry for the purpose of the prize performance. The Chester Music Society shall retain the right to produce multiple copies, make recordings, or give public performances of the work without additional payment.
Performance: The winning entry will be performed at The Chester Music Society Choir’s Christmas concerts on 17 and 18 December 2012.
Award: The winner will receive a cash award of £200, together with a (returnable) trophy. An additional award of £200 will be made to your educational establishment if you are still in full time education at the closing date of the competition. You will also be offered two complimentary tickets for one of the two concerts at which the work will be performed.
Closing Date: for entries is 30 June 2012
Entrance Fees: a non-refundable fee of £5.00.
Judges: The competition will be judged by a panel of three professional musicians:
Graham Jordan Ellis; Musical Director, Chester Music Society Choir
Philip Rushforth; Director of Music, Chester Cathedral
Canon Peter Howell-Jones; Vice Dean, Chester Cathedral
The Judges’ decision shall be final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the award. The judges also reserve the right not to make any award if, in their opinion, none of the entries reaches a sufficiently high standard.
Other: If you win, you will make yourself available for an interview and a photo session, and The Chester Music Society will be allowed to publish that interview and photograph. Manuscripts and computer discs will not be returned. The Chester Music Society may change or update these terms and conditions if necessary.
Full details and an Application Form can be downloaded here (pdf 1.1MB)
Joy Beckett
1943 - 2010
This competition is made possible by a generous donation to Chester Music Society Choir by friends of the late Joy Beckett, an enthusiastic and loyal member of the Choir for more than thirty years, in her memory.
