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 first composition competition for young composers will be judged in 2009:

• Closing date: 27^th March 2009
• Judging: April / May 2009
• 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

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

• Competition Rules
• Application Form