Henk de Jager

COMPOSITION COMPETITION 2026

West London Chamber Choir is delighted to announce a composition competition to be adjudicated by Dame Judith Weir and Stephen Jackson

Competition Rules

Brief

Duration

Text

Performance

Adjudicators

Deadline

A choral work for mixed voice chamber choir, either a cappella or accompanied by piano. Divisi up to SSAATB is acceptable.

4 to 5 minutes

Composers must choose one or more of the texts below, either whole or in part.

Friday 19 March 2027 7.30pm at St James, Sussex Gardens, London
Presented by West London Chamber Choir, conducted by Hilary Campbell
Pianist Krystal Tunnicliffe

Dame Judith Weir, recent Master of the King’s Music, and Stephen Jackson, former Chorus Director of BBC Symphony Chorus

Monday 26 October 2026. Entries received after this date will not be considered.

Any composer, regardless of age, gender or nationality, may enter, other than those persons affiliated with the competition. Members of West London Chamber Choir and their close relatives, are not eligible to enter.

Prizes

First Prize

£1,000

Second Prize

£500

Audience Prize

£100

All shortlisted composers will receive a complimentary pair of tickets to the concert.

Selection Process

A shortlist of up to 6 entrants will be chosen and notified no later than Monday 4 January 2027.

We hope that shortlisted entrants will attend the concert on Friday 19 March 2027, when the pieces will be premiered in front of an audience and a panel of judges. The judges will select and announce the winners at the end of the concert and will award the prizes; there will also be an audience prize.

The judges’ selection of the winners is final and into which no correspondence will be entered.

Texts

Composers must set one or more of the texts below, either whole or in part.

Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O My Soul
Of David.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
……………
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 100

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
A Psalm for giving thanks.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his; [a]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Proverbs 3

Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Beech Tree

by Anja de Jager

I examine your thorns
Discover them to be buds
A brown beetle’s carapace
Protecting next season’s green.
I step into your embrace
Rest my head against your bark
Fit your branches around me
And even though the wind gusts
Until your neighbour groans
I know I’m as safe
As one of those new-grown leaves

General Competition Rules

By submitting your composition, you grant to West London Chamber Choir, free of charge, permission to use the material in any way they wish. In order that West London Chamber Choir can use your composition you must confirm that your composition is:

Your own original work.
Has not previously been performed or published.
Does not infringe any UK laws.
You have the right to give West London Chamber Choir permission to use it for the purposes specified above.

All candidates submitting entries must enclose a signed affirmation that the submitted composition is entirely their own original work and free from plagiarism of the work of others. The candidates themselves are liable if either of these assertions turns out to be untrue.

West London Chamber Choir reserves the right to alter the competition rules due to unforeseen circumstances. Any competitor under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The adjudicators' decision is final. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and agree to be bound by them by entering the competition.

Submission

To ensure your entry is eligible, please provide the following documents and information:

The work

Scores should be sent as a PDF, along with a MIDI, MP3, or similar audio file of the work. The composer's real name must not appear anywhere on the work, but please include a pseudonym.

A cappella works must include a piano reduction for rehearsal purposes.

Supporting document (s)

The entry must be accompanied by a separate document, containing the following information:

Title of the work.
Composer's full name.
The chosen pseudonym (listed on the score)
Address.
Telephone number.
Email address.
Nationality.
Signed declaration confirming acceptance of the competition rules.
A CV or short biography of the composer.

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