1st ANCA CHORAL COMPOSITION COMPETITION
We are excited to announce the 1st ANCA Choral Composition Competition, for emerging Australian composers!
ANCA recognises that prizes for early-career composers can be rare, and we have established this competition to support our choral community. There is substantial prize money and gifts for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in both categories.
Additionally, the first-place awardees will have their composition premiered at Choralfest 2026 by a participating choir, as well as the opportunity to publish their work with Matt Klohs Music!
Find the full Rules and Regulations below.
If you have any questions, please email the Composition Competition Leads at compositioncompetition@anca.org.au
Composers have until December 31st, 2025 to create a new choral work and enter our competition categories of Children’s and/or Open.
Children’s Choir Composition
1st prize: $2,000
2nd prize: $1,000
3rd prize: Gift
Open Choir Composition
1st prize: $2,000
2nd prize: $1,000
3rd prize: Gift
Rules and Regulations
Entrant Eligibility
Entry Eligibility
● Entrants must be:
○ An Australian citizen or permanent resident.
○ An emerging composer.
○ Not a member of the Choralfest 2026 Committee.
● The competition is open to all ages.
Entries must be an original and unpublished work which has never been performed or submitted for a previous competition.
● Entrants must submit entries that are entirely their own. ANCA accepts no responsibility for breach of copyright.
● Composers may select or write their own text. Composers are reminded to ensure they do not infringe copyright when selecting a text and obtain permission from the copyright owner. They are welcome to commission a text at their own expense or select a text in the public domain.
● Text not in English should be accompanied by an International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription as well as a direct English translation and poetic translation where appropriate.
Composition Parameters
Children's section:
● Must be accompanied by piano.
● Maximum of two treble vocal parts.
● Maximum duration of 3.5 minutes.
● Should be suitable for choirs of unchanged voices.
Open section:
● Must be a cappella or accompanied by piano. An additional solo accompanying instrument is permitted but optional.
● Minimum of three vocal parts. It is recommended that entrants use SSA, SAB, TTB, SATB, SSAA or TTBB voicings.
● Maximum of six parts divisi (e.g. SSAATB).
● Maximum duration of 5 minutes.
● A cappella scores must be accompanied by a piano reduction.
Score Preparation
Submission Process
●The score must be accompanied by a foreword describing the work, including any program notes and notes on text and/or translation.
● The sco
re and foreword must be submitted as a single A4 PDF file.
● Please do not include your name on the score or any other identifying features.
● Entries must be accompanied by an MP3 audio file.
●The file name for the PDF and accompanying audio file should include: category (Children’s or Open), the title, and the estimated duration of the work. Example: Open_ILoveToSing _4m30s.
● Only one entry per person is permitted per category.
● There is no entry fee.
● Submission deadline is 31 Dec 2025 at 23:59.
● Entries must be submitted via google form: https://forms.gle/7WHKCyzSpD7UbwyF7.
● All scores will be anonymous for fairness of adjudication.
Copyright
Outcome and Awards
● All entrants will retain copyright.
● ANCA has the right to premiere the 1st place compositions at Choralfest in April 2026. No performances of the prize-winning compositions are allowed prior to 12 April 2026.
● The two choirs premiering the 1st place compositions have the right to produce one copy per choir member in preparation for the premiere at Choralfest 2026.
● ANCA has the right to make a recording of the premiere at Choralfest 2026 and post this on its social media and/or website.
● ANCA has the right to publish excerpts of the score in the Sing Out! Journal and provide full perusal scores for each Chapter’s Choral Repertoire Reading events during the following year (2027) without remuneration to the composer.
● Prize winners will be contacted and announced on ANCA’s website and social media in January 2026.
● Recipients of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize in the Children’s section will be announced during the opening gala concert at Choralfest 2026.
● Recipients of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize in the Open section will be announced during the closing gala concert at Choralfest 2026.
● The 1st place works in the Open and Children’s sections will have the opportunity to publish with Matt Klohs Music.
● The 1st place Children’s entry will be performed by a participating choir at the opening gala concert.
● The 1st place Open entry will be performed by a participating choir at the closing gala concert.
● Prize winners are encouraged to accept their award in person at Choralfest 2026.
● Submissions awarded 1st place must be marked as “Winner of the 1st ANCA Choral Composition Competition” on the music score.
● ANCA retains the right not to award a prize if the standard of submission is unsuitable.
Adjudication
General
● ANCA will select a diverse adjudication panel of experienced choral clinicians
● The decision by the adjudicators is final and no feedback can be provided to entrants.
●Participation in the competition implies full knowledge and acceptance of the competition rules and regulations.
● All queries should be directed to compositioncompetition@anca.org.au.
● ANCA has the right to cancel the competition at any time.
Choralfest is run by the Australian National Choral Association
Visit anca.org.au for more information to become a member