RULES
- Entrants should submit a piece for SATB Choir (no divisi) and piano. Pieces should be 3-5 minutes in length.
- The text should be a Christmas text of any sort. Original texts are welcomed, as are other pre-existing texts, though these must be public domain or used with the author’s express permission.
- Entries should be submitted to competition@halifaxchoral.org as PDF, typeset scores, no later than Monday 1st September. The winner will be notified by Monday 15th September. Feedback will be available for all entrants, on request.
- The winning entry will receive a prize of £500, plus sessions with Darius Battiwalla to arrange the piece for performance with the Black Dyke Band.
- Performances will be given at both Halifax Choral Society’s ‘Carols and Brass’ concert (30th November 2025) and Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus’ Christmas Concert (13th December 2025), both with the Black Dyke Band. Two free tickets will be provided for each concert.
- The judges may award a 2nd and/or 3rd prize depending on the quality of submissions. This would include performance of the piece at these concerts in the original version for choir and piano.
- Entrants can be of any age and level of experience.
- All submissions should be unpublished, and unperformed.
- Scores should not include the name of the composer.
- The winning entry (and if the judges decide to award any second or third places) will be considered for publication by the University of York Music Press.
