The John Sanders Memorial Competition for Young Composers

In order to encourage the composition of music suitable for the liturgy, The Sanders Society will develop a biennial competition for young composers under the age of 28 years. The winning composition, a choral work of up to 8 minutes length for SATB choir suitable for performance in Evensong, will be assured of performance by Gloucester Cathedral Choir, and other performances of the composition will be arranged with the choirs of other eminent cathedrals and university colleges who have also agreed to participate. In addition the winning composer will receive an award of £1000.

Congratulations to Graham Ross who has been awarded the 2009 John Sanders Memorial Prize for Composition, for his a capella setting of "I sing of a Maiden".

The composition will receive its first public performance at the Cathedral Choir's recital in Gloucester Cathedral at 12.15pm on Saturday 11th July 2009, when the prize will be presented by Sir Philip Ledger.

The Society wishes to thank all 27 entrants to this year's competition, whose ages ranged from 11 to 27 years.

• Performances:
  • First performance of the composition: Gloucester Cathedral Choir: 11^th July 2009
  • Other performances to be scheduled during 2009/2010 by the choirs of:
    • Canterbury Cathedral
    • Coventry Cathedral
    • Ely Cathedral
    • Exeter Cathedral
    • Lincoln Cathedral
    • Merton College, Oxford
    • Sheffield Cathedral
    • Tewkesbury Abbey
    • Queens College, Oxford
    • St. David's Cathedral
    • St. Chad's College, Durham
    • Portsmouth Cathedral
    • and again by Gloucester Cathedral Choir at evensong during the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival 2010
• Judges:
  • Sir Philip Ledger
  • Bob Chilcott
  • Adrian Partington