Grace Church on-the-Hill announces the first St. Cecilia Choral Composition Competition. All entries must be postmarked no later than February 28, 2009.

Purpose

The purpose of the competition is to encourage the development and publication of new anthems and motets for the Anglican liturgy for choirs of upper voices, particularly of women with girls. Texts for liturgical seasons deemed underrepresented in the repertoire will be proposed in the competition, with an emphasis on new texts not previously set for choirs. Prizes of $800 and $400 will be awarded for the winning and runner-up composition.

Guidelines

The musical score submitted must be original and unpublished. New arrangements of existing works are not acceptable. The competition is open to composers of all ages and experience, and any individual may submit more than one entry. Any subsequent publication of winning entries will include acknowledgement of the role of the St. Cecilia Choral Composition Competition.

Requirements

 Duration:  The performance time of the anthem or motet must be two to four minutes and thirty seconds. Choral requirements: Compositions must be for SA, SSA, or SSAA choir. They may be a cappella or accompanied by organ or piano. The vocal ranges for each part are:

Texts: Words for the motets and anthems must be chosen from the attached list. Works using other texts will not be accepted for this competition.

Application form:  One application form must be submitted with each entry. All application forms must be complete or the entry will not be accepted.

Submitted manuscript:  All pieces should be written in open score with a piano reduction underneath a cappella works. All copies become the property of Grace Church on-the-Hill and will not be returned. Entries must be submitted in manuscript form produced through a music notation software or in a legible handwritten manuscript. Taped entries will not be accepted. Grace Church on-the-Hill retains the right to perform all musical works submitted to the competition and to make multiple copies of the scores for use by the church choirs.

Anonymity:  The composer’s name and any other identifying marks should only appear on a covering page for the manuscript. To ensure anonymity in the judging process, manuscripts will be coded and the composer’s name and all identifying marks will unavailable to the adjudicators.Number of Copies

Five copies must be submitted for the competition jury (the original plus 4 copies). A stamped, self-addressed envelope must be included for “acknowledgement of receipt” purposes.

Curriculum Vitae

A brief CV should be provided listing full name, address, email, phone, place and date of birth, citizenship, and education with attention being given to musical and compositional accomplishments.

Registration fee

$25 Canadian ($20 US). Additional entries are $15 Can/$10 US. Application fees are non-refundable.

Send copies addressed to:

St. Cecilia Choral Composition CompetitionGrace Church on-the-Hill300 Lonsdale RoadToronto, OntarioCanada M4V 1X4

Or by email to Melva Graham with “St Cecilia Competition” in the subject line.

Adjudication

A panel of four adjudicators will judge the competition: the Music Director and Associate Organist of Grace Church, a member of the Choir Guild, and an outside music advisor. The panel will make its decision no later than March 15, 2009. Winners will be informed of the panel’s decision by email or mail, and all entrants will be informed of the outcome by email. The adjudicators reserve the right to make no award if necessary.

About the Choirs of Grace Church on-the-Hill

The Choir of Gentlemen and Boys of Grace Church was founded with the parish in 1874. Eminent conductors include composer Dr. Derek Holman and concert organist Ian Sadler. Choir alumni include operatic tenors Alan Woodrow, James McLean, and Adam Tunnicliffe, all active in Europe, and soprano Jessica Riley, now teaching in the USA. The choir has toured in the UK five times previous to its most recent 2007 tour to Durham and Oxford under current Music Director Melva Treffinger Graham, M. Mus.

The St. Cecilia Choir was founded as a girls’ choir in 1983, with the women’s division added in 1986. The girls’ choir travelled to England in 1998, and the full choir to England, Wales and Ireland in 2001. The choir enjoyed week-long residencies at Lichfield and Salisbury Cathedrals in England in August 2007.

Both choirs sing weekly in the service of Grace Church, providing leadership and inspiration to the congregation and enriching the liturgy. Musical and Christian education of young people are a high priority within the British cathedral tradition as adapted for parish use at Grace, and a family atmosphere is combined with a professional approach to intergenerational music-making.

RecordingsThere Was Setting, There Was Dawning  -- more hymns and Holy Jazz, with a new haunting and original work on the Creation story by Brian  Barlow

The Holy Jazz Concert  -- traditional Anglican choirs meet Guido Basso and the Barlow Group—real jazz and real church music: Byrd, Elgar, hymns, all used as improv and riff material by the band

The First Nowell  -- 23 Carols with harp, organ, and percussionSing Joyfully  -- Renaissance motets, Palestrina Missa Aeterna Christi Munera

Tidings of Comfort and Joy  -- Vaughan Williams Fantasy on Old English Carols and traditional Carols

Hear My Prayer  -  19th Century anthems and motets: Mendelssohn, Bruckner, Wesley, Stanford

Application Form

Name __________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________

City_____________________________ Postal Code_______________

Telephone _________________________________________________

Email _____________________________________________________

Enclosures:       ________  Curriculum vitae

                       ________  Original manuscript

                       ________  Four copies of original manuscript

Authorization:  I have read and understood the guidelines for the St. Cecilia Choral Composition Competition of Grace Church on-the-Hill.

Signature: __________________________________________________

Payment:                   Paid by:         Cheque

                                                      Visa 

Card Number __________________________ Expiry date _________

All entries must be postmarked by February 28, 2009.

Click here for the Competition Application Form

TEXTS -- Please select one of these five texts to be the lyrics of your composition:

Click here for the competition texts

GENERAL:

I cannot dance, O Lord,Unless you lead me.If you wish me to leap joyfully,Let me see you dance and sing—

Then I will leap into Love—And from Love into Knowledge,And from Knowledge into the Harvest,That sweetest Fruit beyond human sense.

There I will stay with You, whirling.

© Jane Hirshfield

Used by permission of the Author

EUCHARIST:

Bounty bread, bestowing riches
on the hungry and oppressed;
kingdom bread, conferring status
on the outcast and oppressed.
Bread of love that binds together
bread confronting human greed;
bread of gift, beyond all owning,
bread embracing human need.

Jubilation wine of plenty,
celebrating hope and joy;
sacrificial wine of losing
all that evil can destroy.
Wine ecstatic, passing reason,
wine, the logic of the Word.
Bread and wine, the gospel's table,
mark the action of the Lord.

© 2001 by Paul Gibson

Used by permission of the Author ADVENT:

Jesus comes with all his grace,Comes to save a fallen race:Object of our glorious hope,Jesus comes to lift us up.

Let the living stones cry out;Let the child of Abraham shout;Praise we all our lowly King.Give Him thanks, rejoice and sing.

We shall gain our calling’s prize;After God we all shall riseFilled with joy, and love, and peace,Perfected in holiness.

Charles Wesley

LENT:I asked for Peace—My sins arose,And bound me close,I could not find release.

I asked for Truth—My doubts came in,And with their dinThey wearied all my youth.

I asked for Love—My lovers failed,And griefs assailedAround, beneath, above.

I asked for Thee—And Thou didst comeTo take me homeWithin Thy heart to be.

Digby Mackworth Dolben (1848-1867)

EASTER:

Jesus, the dawn of springtime’s sun,Arising from the earth’s dark wombWith light and life eternal:As long as this round world shall last,Now that the winter’s reign is past,Your kingdom springs supernal.

The birds their springtime chorus raiseIn field and grove their hymns of praiseIn sweetness never-ending:So our glad hearts and tongues rejoiceAnd praise death’s victor with one voice,Who is our nature’s mending.

The woods are bursting into flower,Awakened by spring’s gentle power,The fields with grain are greening;In your great name, so life bursts forthTo bring the fruit of love to birth,Your people’s holy offering.

Paul Gibson, after a translation by Sister Anitra SSJD from the Danish of N.F.S. Gruntvig, 1846

23 June 1998