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 was submitted to us in 2026 was assessed by our judging panel of David Hill, John Rutter, Lucy Walker and Jonathan Willcocks.
The 2026 Sir David Willcocks Carol Competition is now closed for entries. We’ll be announcing the winners via our newsletter very soon, so sign up to make sure you find out first!
In 2026 there were two winners; Arthur Togneri with his composition The Winds of Winter and Ian Crawford with his work Adam Lay ybounden.
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!
Christmas Carols at Cadogan
Join The Bach Choir and special guests London City Brass for a magical evening of Christmas carols conducted by David Hill. Each year, the Choir