Questors Choir call-for-scores 2026
SUMMARY
Calling all composers: we’re looking for pieces for community choir on the theme of “Food and Drink”. Four-part SATB or three-part SABar voices, non-divisi, with or without piano - open to everyone - no entry fee - GBP300 prize - deadline 31 March 2026. Please read the full details, below, before submitting!
https://www.paulayres.co.uk/callforscores/
INTRODUCTION from Paul Ayres
I’m delighted that Questors Choir, one of the choral groups I’m privileged to lead, is running a call-for-scores, as a way of discovering new music for us to sing.
As a composer/arranger myself, I’m often on the other side of the fence, submitting my scores for competitions (sometimes with success, but usually not!) - and now I’m in a “poacher-turned-gamekeeper” mode...
The main thing to bear in mind is that Questors Choir is a non-auditioning choir, open to all. Some members read music, but many don’t, and so will be learning by ear. And here’s where I’m going to nail my colours to the mast. In looking around for music for the various community choirs that I have the pleasure of directing, I’ve found that while many pieces are just too difficult (there’s loads of great stuff out there for advanced chamber choirs) at the other extreme, much of what the mainstream publishers offer as “easy-to-learn” is a bit, well, uninspiring. As if non-trained musicians and amateurs are being written down to, with excessively safe and bland material. I don’t think it has to be this way, and I hope you agree.
So, can you write something that’s “simple but not simplistic”? Something “accessible but not instantly forgettable”? Highly subjective terms, I admit… That, my creative friends, is the challenge. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
TERMS
“You”/“Your” refer to the composer.
“Us”/“We”/“Our” refer to Questors Choir.
“Piece” refers to your composition.
ABOUT YOU
Entry to this call for scores is open to absolutely everyone, with no restrictions.
You may only enter one piece.
ABOUT US
Questors Choir is a group of about 70 singers, based in west London (UK). The choir is open to all without audition. We enjoy a wide range of music of many different styles.
YOUR PIECE
Your piece should relate, in some way, to the theme of “Food and Drink”.
Please interpret this theme in any way you like, and submit music of any style. We would love a variety of pieces in our concert!
We are looking for original compositions, not for arrangements or adaptations of existing music.
Your piece should be scored for four-part choir (SATB) or for three-part mixed voices (SABar), with no divisi.
Your piece can be unaccompanied, or feature a piano accompaniment. We will have a professional pianist for our concert. No other instruments or soloists are available.
The words can be in any language, but please provide a translation for any text not in English.
If the words are under copyright, you must provide written permission from the copyright holder. (Under UK law, copyright extends for 70 years after the creator’s death.)
Your piece should last between 1 and 6 minutes.
It’s ok if your piece has been performed or recorded already.
YOUR SCORE
Please submit your piece as a PDF file (not as a music notation program file).
Make sure it’s clear, free of misprints, and easy to read.
Include your name on the score, and include the author/text source.
RECORDINGS
It is not necessary to submit a recording.
If you do have a recording of your piece, you are welcome to send an online link. Please send a link only - do not attach audio or video files to your email.
Your link could be a live performance (on youtube, vimeo, soundcloud, your own website, etc) or a MIDI mock-up or piano demo (on your own site, or in a shared folder, dropbox, googledrive, etc)
PERFORMANCE
We aim to perform the winning piece at our concert on 12 July 2026 in west London.
If your piece is selected, we would love to see you at our concert (or at a rehearsal, or maybe via online video link). We cannot provide travel or accommodation expenses. Attendance for the winner is not compulsory.
Our concerts are not usually recorded, so we are not able to offer a live recording as part of the prize.
COPYRIGHT and FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
You must own the copyright of your own music. It’s ok if your piece is available for sale online through a shared self-publishing outlet. But if you have signed the copyright ownership away to a third party (a publisher, or a company), then you cannot submit it.
You retain the copyright of your own material, we won’t ask for this to be transferred to us, and we won’t use your music without your permission.
By submitting your music, you acknowledge that your piece is your own original material.
There is no entry fee.
There are no hidden charges: you don’t need to sign up for anything, or subscribe to anything.
The winner will be paid GBP300 (three hundred pounds).
Payment will be made by bank transfer (if you are in the UK) or via PayPal or MoneyGram or WesternUnion (if you are outside the UK).
You will be responsible for any tax payable, and for any currency conversion charges or bank/transfer charges for receiving the payment.
RESULTS & COMMUNICATION
We will acknowledge receipt of your submission.
We will write to everyone with the results.
We cannot offer individual feedback on submitted pieces.
WHAT TO SEND
Send your piece as a PDF file (not as a music notation file) to quelchoir@gmail.com
by 31 March 2026.
Permission to set the text, if you are using words that are not public domain, or not your own.
Include your contact details in the email message. There’s no entry form. Include your full name on the score.
WHAT NOT TO SEND
Do not send audio/video files. (If there is a recording online, send a link. This is not compulsory.)
Do not send more than one piece.
Do not send a CV, biography, photo, list of works, or anything else.
THANKYOU
Thankyou for sharing your music with us!
If you have any questions, write to quelchoir@gmail.com
But please read all the details above first. We’ve tried to think of everything, anticipating FAQs, and RAQs too!