Open call: Peter Tranchell Foundation 2026 Wedding Anthem competition

The competition brief draws on Tranchell’s own wedding anthems, including Ye Shall Be Holy and How Fair and How Pleasing, as well as the wider themes and influences found in his life and work. The foundation is seeking a new composition that can be performed during wedding ceremonies and on other suitable occasions.

The winning work should meet the following requirements:

• Written for SATB voices, with divisi permitted.
• Accompanied by organ or piano, or performed a cappella.
• Suitable for use in a wedding ceremony of any faith or none, while remaining compatible with an Anglican church ceremony.
• Between three and five minutes in duration.

Eligibility

The competition is open to composers of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. Previous entrants and prize winners are also eligible to participate.

Prizes

The winning composer will receive:

• £750
• A performance of the winning work, with a reception, subject to confirmation.
• An invitation to join the judging panel for the following year's competition.
• Publication and promotion of the composition by the Peter Tranchell Foundation.

The judges may award second and third prizes at their discretion, with prizes of corresponding value. The foundation reserves the right to withhold awards if it does not receive entries of sufficient quality.

Judging

The judging panel includes composers, performers and directors/conductors. The confirmed members include:

• David Hill – Chair
• Cheryl Frances-Hoad
• Jonna Wikeley
• Maho Ishizaka – winner of the 2025 competition

Additional panel members are expected to be confirmed.

The judges’ decision is expected to be announced in early October 2026 and will be final.

Competition conditions

Entrants should note the following requirements:

• Each composer may submit one entry only.
• The submitted composition must not have been publicly performed or commercially recorded before submission.
• Works must not contain material generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
• The composer must grant the Peter Tranchell Foundation a perpetual, non-exclusive right to publish, perform and record the work.
• In performances, publications or recordings not directly involving the foundation, the composer must acknowledge that the work was composed for the Peter Tranchell Foundation Composition Prize 2026.
• The winning composer is expected to attend a performance of the work if one can be arranged. Reasonable receipted expenses will be covered.

How to enter

Entries should be submitted by email to [email protected] and must include:

• A PDF score suitable for A4 printing and performance. The composer’s name and other identifying information must not appear on the score.
• A biography of no more than 500 words, submitted as a Word or PDF document. This should include the composer's full name.
• A statement of no more than 500 words explaining how the themes outlined in the competition brief have informed the composition. The composer’s name and other identifying information must not appear on this document.
• A MusicXML file of the score, if available.
• A scanned or photographed copy of the completed and signed registration form.

Alternatively, the completed and signed registration form may be posted to:

The Peter Tranchell Composition Competition

c/o 1 Fronwen Terrace

Cradoc Road

Brecon

LD3 9HB

Submissions will be anonymised before being forwarded to the judging panel.

Deadline: 26 September 2026. All required materials must be received by the deadline.

View the original call here.

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