The Twelfth Alvarez Chamber Orchestra Composition Competition
in association with Universal Edition 2024/5

Details and Regulations

Compose a new work,
or submit a previously created work
from a solo to an orchestral piece.

First Prize - £1000
Second Prize - The Mullord Award - £500  

All participants will get a voucher for a free submission to the UE publishing tool, scodo, worth €49. Professional scodo Subscriptions worth €300 will be awarded to the First Prize and Mullord Award winners.

Closing date: midnight (GMT)
Wenesday 31st December 2025

The results will be published 
in early 2026.

For the twelfth occasion, the Álvarez Chamber
Orchestra (ÁCO) is inviting composers of any age
and nationality to submit works for a composition competition
  • There is no specification as to the length or nature of the work.
  • If electronics are used, if not notated conventionally and fully in the score, a CD or mp3 should be supplied.
  • A recording of the work should also be submitted if the score is notated graphically or in any other unconventional format. 
  • There is no restriction on the number of works submitted by each composer but each piece will incur the same entry fee of £30 and a single scodo voucher will be issued to each participant irrespective of the quantity of pieces entered.
  • The work may be a new piece or may have been written at any time in the composer’s career.
  • All scores must be submitted electronically as pdf files to the address of the competition administrator, Trevor Huntley: aco.competition@hotmail.com
  • Entries should only be submitted electronically. Two seperate emails should be sent and each should have the same subject title so that they can easily be associated with each other. The titles should read 'ACO - #12 + the title of the work being submitted'. The first email should contain the work being submitted and this should only have the name of the piece on the first page but have no mention of the composer or any personal details which might reveal the identity of the composer. The second email should include details about the composer's identity, their name, address, email address, phone number, short biography, photograph, programme notes and confirmation of how the entry fee has been paid. NO hard copies of scores will be accepted.
  • Composers submitting their scores via a link on a file sharing site such as Dropbox should ensure the files remain uploaded until receipt of the written adjudication following the conclusion of the competition. All entries that the ACO receives will be acknowledged prior to adjudication. Composers will be notified if any files of an electronic submission are corrupt or missing. It is the responsibility of the composer to provide the ACO with pdf files that can be opened. If the composer is unable to supply the requested downloadable and readable files within the time limits detailed above, the entry will be deemed disqualified.
  • Entrants should ensure that their submissions fully meet the requirements and rules of the competition: no refund of the entry fee can be made.
  • Please contact the competition administrator, Trevor Huntley for further clarification.
The maximum size of the orchestra is as follows:
3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo)
3 oboes (3rd doubling cor anglais)
3 clarinets (3rd doubling bass clarinet)
3 bassoons (3rd doubling contrabassoon)
4 horns
2 trumpets
3 trombones
tuba
timpani (doubling third percussionist)
percussion (two players)
harp
guitar
any keyboard
strings (max. 12/10/8/6/4)
Minimum specification is a single performer  

 

The work may (not a requirement) contain a vocal element from a soloist to SSAATTBB chorus.

In addition to the prizes, there is the possibility of a performance by the Álvarez Chamber Orchestra at a future season.

  The entry fee is £30 per work and may be paid by PayPal:

 

 

If entering the details via PayPal independently of this link, please use this email address, not the one given earlier for the submission of scores:

alvarezchamberorchestra@yahoo.com

If you prefer, we accept payment by bank transfer to the ACO bank account:

The Alvarez Chamber Orchestra Account
No. 65268120  Sort Code 089299

We no longer accept payment by cheque

Jury membership has not yet been finalised, but the following list of previous adjudicators demonstrates the distinction and diversity of those chosen to serve on the panel:

David Collins: D. Phil. University of York - Composer
John Galea: D.Mus.(Melit.), D.Mus.(Pavia), Head of the Music Department,
University of Malta - Composer, conductor, lecturer. 
Linda Hirst D.Litt Huddersfield: Professor of Vocal Studies,
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Cord Meijering: Director of Akademie für Tonkunst, Darmstadt - Composer. 
Silvina Milstein: Professor of Composition and Analysis, 
University of Cambridge and King's College, London - Composer
Edwin Roxburgh: Composer and conductor:
awarded the Cobbett Medal for Services to Music.
Formerly Professor at the RCM and Birmingham Conservatoire.
Giles Swayne: Composer in Residence, Clare College, Cambridge 
Robert Walker: Composer, Formerly BBC Broadcaster,
Geoffrey Álvarez: D.Phil, University of York -
Composer, conductor, The Álvarez Chamber Orchestra

The competition will be administered by ÁCO
treasurer Trevor Huntley who may be contacted for
any further questions both prior to and subsequent to the competition.
  • The decision of the jury will be final and binding.
  • Selected competitors will receive feedback based on the jury's comments at the discretion of the Artistic Director.
  • The jury reserve the right not to award a prize if the submissions are not of sufficient quality.

Dr Geoffrey Álvarez
Artistic Director/Conductor
The Álvarez Chamber Orchestra

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