Huntsville Master Chorale 2027: US-Residents-Only Choral Composition Contest, $1,000 Prize
COMPETITION — U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY. Huntsville Master Chorale is inviting original choral scores for its 10th annual judged Composition Contest. The 2027 winner is eligible for a $1,000 prize and a premiere at the choir's April 10, 2027 concert. This is a composition competition with adjudication, not an unpaid invitation to join an amateur choir or a salaried position.
Eligibility and deadline
The official entry page restricts participation to current residents of the United States. The submission deadline is December 15, 2026; a precise cutoff hour is not specified on the publicly available contest page. The organizer accepts up to two compositions from each composer and asks that no identifying marks be included on the scores, because judging is anonymous. It encourages works that are not already established online or published.
Required choral music and subject
Scores should be for SATB mixed choir, generally suitable for an adult chorus of around 40 singers that rehearses approximately two hours weekly. Works should run between 3 and 10 minutes, either a cappella, with piano, or with piano plus minimal additional instrumentation. Extensive solo writing and overly demanding tessitura are discouraged. The organizer says the musical setting must use the provided poem 'The Light We Bring' by Joanna Caldwell. Applicants must consult and respect the official source text and permissions.
IMPORTANT OFFICIAL-PAGE DISCREPANCY: The 2027 contest heading identifies 'The Light We Bring' as its theme, and the text requirement specifies that poem, but another line on the same official page says 'Contest theme: Lasting Memories'. The required poem and any thematic interpretation should be confirmed directly with the organizer before composing or submitting. This summary does not resolve the inconsistency by guessing.
Originality and AI restrictions
The official rules prohibit using generative AI or algorithmic composition tools to create melodies, harmony, counterpoint, orchestration or lyrics. Conventional score-engraving software such as Dorico, Sibelius or MuseScore may be used for manual notation. Applicants are required to include a 100–300-word explanation of their human creative process and may be asked to provide drafts or sketches for verification.
Prize, selection and usage rights
A panel of guest judges, chorale members and the Artistic Director selects the winner. The published award is USD $1,000; the winning composition is planned to premiere at the chorale's April 10, 2027 concert. The organizer reserves the right not to award a prize if submitted works do not meet its standards. This award is prize money for the winning score, not a wage offered to all entrants.
The composer retains rights outside the rights relating to the chorale's performances and recordings, which the official conditions reserve for the organizer. No separate entry fee is clearly stated on the currently published competition page, so applicants should confirm fees and full rights conditions with the organizer rather than assuming submission is free.
How to submit
Complete the organizer's composition submission form and send the required score PDF, together with an MP3 recording when available, to the official contact shown in the competition rules: hsvmasterchorale@gmail.com. The official page also requires a narrative of the composition process. Scores must be legible and anonymous. Results are expected by January 5, 2027 according to the published information.
About the organizer and official instructions
Huntsville Master Chorale is an Alabama choral organization presenting concert performances and community music activities. Its official website lists prior composition competitions and winner performances as part of its concert programs, and its 2027 page sets out the competition rules and submission contact.
Official 2027 contest requirements, submission form and contact: https://www.hsvmasterchorale.org/composition-contest
Organizer home and performance calendar: https://www.hsvmasterchorale.org/
This is an independent edited summary of an external announcement, checked October 30, 2026. The organizer's original rules and any updates take precedence, especially where the wording of the announced theme is inconsistent. Confirm eligibility, the required poem, fees and copyright terms directly before submitting.