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 2025 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.
The 2025 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 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!
