Every year since 2017, we’ve been running the annual Sir David Willcocks Carol Composer Competition to provide opportunities for composers from all over the world and to add new carols to the repertoire. Entrants compose a carol which is judged by our panel of David Hill, John Rutter, Errollyn Wallen, Joanna Marsh and Jonathan Willcocks. The winning compositions are then performed live at our Carols at Cadogan concert, which is one of our most cherished concerts of the year and often features a full house with nearly 1,000 attendees.
We have had submissions in past years from all over the world from composers as young as 9 years old. Carols can be written in any language – we value diversity.
Singing carols has a power to inspire and connect communities, making us healthier and happier. Whether they are sung in schools, pubs or in concert halls, carols are something that everyone can enjoy.
It’s vital that we keep the carolling tradition alive for future generations, which is why we run this annual competition to find and showcase the best carol composers in the world.
The Sir David Willcocks Carol Composition Competition is particularly special to us because Sir David Willcocks was musical director of The Bach Choir for 38 years. He was a prolific arranger and composer of carols for choirs, and our President John Rutter and Musical Director David Hill are both carrying the carolling torch today. This competition is a wonderful way for us to honour Sir David’s legacy whilst also shining a crucial light on the exciting young composers of the future.
Every carol from every composer that is submitted to us will be assessed by our judging panel of David Hill, John Rutter, Errollyn Wallen, Joanna Marsh and Jonathan Willcocks. John Rutter is one of the world’s leading carol composers, whilst David Hill has extensive experience of conducting some of the world’s leading ensembles. Errollyn Wallen and Joanna Marsh are both Ivor Novello winners, and Jonathan Willcocks was recently awarded a British Empire Medal for his services to music. Entering this competition by composing a carol is a unique opportunity to showcase your work to five world-class composers and conductors.
The Bach Choir is delighted to announce the eighth year of the Sir David Willcocks Carol Composer Competition, following on from a successful first competition in 2017. Composers of any age are invited to submit an original carol for adult SATB choir with or without organ or piano accompaniment. The winning carol or carols will be rehearsed and performed by The Bach Choir at Carols at Cadogan at London’s Cadogan Hall on Monday 15th December 2025 at 7.30pm.
The competition will be judged by David Hill, John Rutter, Errollyn Wallen, Joanna Marsh, and Jonathan Willcocks. The competition will be judged in two categories:
The deadline for submissions is Sunday 26th October 2025, and the winners will be announced no later than Friday 21st November 2025. The winner in each category will receive a small cash prize, kindly donated by the David Willcocks Music Trust, and up to three complimentary tickets to the Cadogan Hall on Monday 15 December 2025 to hear their carol performed by The Bach Choir, conducted by David Hill.
The competition is now open until Sunday 26th October 2025. Read the conditions in full before submitting your entry.
1. Composers may use their own or others’ words, but precise details of the source of the text must be provided. Text must be out of copyright.
2. Carols submitted should not have received a public performance, and the music must be original (i.e. not an arrangement of existing music).
3. The Bach Choir shall have all rights in connection with the first public performance of the prize-winning carol(s), but thereafter the composer shall have all rights in respect of the carol.
4. The Bach Choir shall have all rights in connection with the first recording of the prize-winning carol(s), but thereafter the composer shall have all rights in respect of the carol. The exclusivity of this period shall be one year.
5. Entries will be judged by David Hill, John Rutter, Errollyn Wallen, Joanna Marsh, and Jonathan Willcocks and such other person(s) as The Bach Choir may appoint.
6. The panel of judges reserves the right to divide the prize between two or more composers, or withhold the prize if there are no entries of sufficient merit to justify an award being made. The decision of the panel of judges shall be final and binding. Prize winners will be notified by email to the address supplied with their entry.
7. The panel of judges regrets that individual feedback cannot be given to unsuccessful entrants.
8. Entrants should fill in the online form that will appear when you click ‘submit your entry’ below. They should then send their entries by email (as a PDF or other digital format) to carolcompetition@thebachchoir.org.uk. Please contact our administrator for details of how to post in scores if applicable. The Bach Choir accepts no liability for any late, lost or misdirected entries.
9. Each entry should be accompanied by a covering letter/email, which includes the title of the work, composer’s name, date of birth (if 17 or under) and contact details, which should include an email address. This should be submitted using the online form that will appear when you click ‘submit your entry’ below. Carols will be judged based on the score – please do not send audio. The name of the composer must not appear anywhere on the score.
10. Entries from anyone aged 17 or under must include written confirmation (which may be by email) from the entrant’s parent or guardian that they agree to be bound by the Competition’s conditions of entry.
11. In the case of posted entries, competitors who would like their scores returned should enclose a stamped, addressed envelope.
12. If the concert on Monday 15th December 2025 has to be cancelled or postponed due to any reasons beyond the control of The Bach Choir, every effort will be made to perform the winning carol(s) at a future Christmas performance, but this cannot be guaranteed.
13. The Bach Choir regrets that it cannot pay winners’ travel/accommodation expenses incurred in attending the concert on Monday 15th December 2025.
14. Personal information supplied to The Bach Choir by entrants will be used by us in accordance with our privacy policy which can be found at https://www.thebachchoir.org.uk/privacy-policy/.
15. By entering the Competition, entrants undertake that their entry is not in breach of any third party’s rights and that they will indemnify us for any loss, damage or other liability we incur if this turns out not to be the case.
16. We may require any prize winner to participate in promotional or publicity material and we will have the right to use any such material in any medium and in any manner we see fit.
If you have any other questions about the competition, please feel free to get in touch by emailing carolcompetition@thebachchoir.org.uk
In 2024 there were three winners; Clementine Dawson with her composition Alone, Clive Osgood with his work Hodie Christus Natus Est and Barbara Steadman-Allen with her work, Good Festival of Christian Cheer. They are pictured here with last year’s judges and you can hear excerpts of two of the carols from a pre-concert rehearsal below.
Every year we perform our winning carols at Carols at Cadogan. They are sung alongside a perfect blend of carols new and old. We encourage audience participation for some pieces, too – it’s guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit!
