Christmas Carol Competition

True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Tucson’s Two-Time Grammy-nominated ensemble, seeks new, unpublished Christmas works for its December 2025 Lessons & Carols by Candlelight Concerts and/or its Holiday Special. The winning piece(s) may be either an original Christmas-themed composition or an arrangement of a pre-existing Christmas carol tune.

Each year, over 1,200 people attend True Concord’s Lessons & Carols by Candlelight concerts, which feature predominantly sacred Christmas works and well-known carols, either unaccompanied or with organ/harp. The more intimate Holiday Special, now in its 3rd season, is anticipated to garner 200 attendees and features mostly secular holiday works, performed a cappella or accompanied by piano.

Open to all composers.

Submission Deadline: July 31, 2025

•  Please submit an original, unpublished (or self-published) composition or arrangement
•  Length: minimum 3 minutes, maximum 6 minutes
•  Scored for SATB chorus with or without single-instrument accompaniment (such as piano, organ, harp) and/or a single obbligato orchestral instrument
•  Text must be in the public domain or composer must have written permission for use
•  Sacred and secular texts will be considered

Please send to composercompetition@trueconcord.org:

•  Score (anonymous – no identifying composer information) in pdf format
•  Audio (anonymous) in mp3 or other compressed audio format (MIDI realizations acceptable)

Please include composer name in the body of your email and name documents as your composition title only – no composer name. (Ex. PrayersandRemembrances.pdf).

$1,000 will be awarded for the piece (or pieces) that are selected for performance.