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.

The 2009 John Sanders Memorial Prize for Composition was awarded to Graham Ross for his a capella setting of "I sing of a Maiden". This work has subsequently received many performances, and we are excited to hear that Graham has received a number of new commissions sicne the award. Graham has also been appointed Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge from September 2010.

The winning composition from the 2011 competition will receive its first public performance by Gloucester Cathedral Choir at evensong in Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 10th July 2011, and will be sung by a number of collegiate and cathedral choirs during 2011/12.

• Closing date: 25^th March 2011
• Judging: April / May 2011
• Performances:
  • First performance of the composition: Gloucester Cathedral Choir: 10^th July 2011
  • Other performances to be scheduled during 2011/2012:
    • Gloucester Cathedral Choir at evensong during the Worcester Three Choirs Festival 2011
• Judges:
  • Sir Philip Ledger
  • Bob Chilcott
  • Adrian Partington

Full rules of the composition competition for young composers, including an entry form, may be downloaded below:

• Competition Rules
• Application Form