Composition Competitions

3.00pm on Sunday 5th May 2024

Composition Class Details

This year’s composition competitions are designed to share and celebrate composers of all ages, offering opportunities to exhibit new works and win fabulous prizes. Each competition will provide a platform where musicians can learn about styles and techniques of composition and discover new directions through listening to other competitors.

Compositions can be submitted as a video of a performance, as a recording (this can be a live recording or generated by computer software) or as a live performance on the day of the competition. All compositions must be presented with a commentary to introduce the piece prior to its performance.

Book prizes from The Music Master Publications Ltd will be awarded to the winners of each category, and an overall winner will be chosen to receive the title of ‘North London Festival Best Composer’ and will be presented with a certificate and trophy during the end of Festival concert on Friday 10th May 2024.

The composition classes will be adjudicated at 3 pm on Sunday 5th May in the Free Church in Hampstead Garden Suburb.

Every entrant will receive a written adjudication sheet and a certificate of participation.

To be eligible for these composition competitions, pieces must be composed using the fifteen Starting Points for Composition; these are included in the 2024 Composition Syllabus (link on the right)

If an entrant has been a pupil of the Adjudicator in the year prior to the Festival or is well-known to the Adjudicator,  they should contact the Composition Section Head before entering.

Adjudicator – Glyn Devey

Composition Classes

Junior Composition – Class 700 *
Age 12 and under – piece lasting up to 3 minutes
Intermediate Composition – Class 701
Age 13 to 15 – piece lasting up to 5 minutes
Senior Composition – Class 702
Age 16 to 18 – piece lasting up to 7 minutes
Advanced Composition – Class 703
Age 19 and over – piece lasting up to 10 minutes

Information and Rules of Entry

* Age is the age on 1st September before the class so that all the entrants in a class are in the same school year.

The time limits for the competitions refer to the maximum length of performance including the commentary presentation.

Please click on the link below for how to apply and for hints on creating an effective video performance. The first time that you use the new entry system, you will need to register.

The closing date for entries is Friday 19 April 2024.

How to Enter Facebook

For further information please contact the Section Administrator (link to the right).

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Section
Class
First Competitor's Name
(as it will appear in programme)
Date of birth (if under 18)
(please use DD/MM/YYYY format) *

I am over 18.

Instrument / voice
(not required for speech and drama entries)
Second Competitor's Name
(where applicable)
Date of birth (if under 18)
(please use DD/MM/YYYY format) *

I am over 18.

Instrument / voice
(not required for speech and drama entries)
Third Competitor's Name
(where applicable)
Date of birth (if under 18)
(please use DD/MM/YYYY format) *

I am over 18.

Instrument / voice
(not required for speech and drama entries)
Fourth Competitor's Name
(where applicable)
Date of birth (if under 18)
(please use DD/MM/YYYY format) *

I am over 18.

Instrument / voice
(not required for speech and drama entries)
Add more competitors
Remove Competitor
Group/Choir Size (if applicable)
Title and Composer of piece to be performed
(if applicable)
Time to perform (if applicable)
Teacher's name
Teacher's Contact phone number
Teacher's Email
Conservatoires/universities attended
Entry date
Graduation date
If you studied at more than one conservatoire/university, please enter details for the last one at which you studied.

Class fee