Rosalie Coopman 40+ Composition Competition 2027: UK-Resident Composers, £2,000 Award
The Rosalie Coopman Music Foundation and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance have announced their 40+ Composition Competition for 2027. Unlike most new-composer competitions, this opportunity is specifically designed for composers aged at least 40 at submission. Entry is free, but the residency condition is strict: applicants may hold any nationality, yet they must reside in the United Kingdom. Submissions are NOT open until 1 November 2026, so this is an advance notice to give composers time to prepare.
Key dates and award
Submissions open at 12 noon UK time on 1 November 2026 and close at 12 noon UK time on 1 February 2027. The foundation expects to announce the winning composer shortly after 1 March 2027. The winner receives a £2,000 award and a performance of the chosen work by the Rosalie Ensemble at Trinity Laban in Greenwich, London, during the spring/summer concert season, with a recording and certificate. Two honorary mentions are also envisaged, with performances of their compositions, but the £2,000 financial award is reserved for the winner.
Eligibility and anonymity
A composer must have turned 40 by the application date (the 2027 rules identify eligible birth years as before 1987) and must be resident in the UK. One work per composer is allowed. Previous winners may not apply in consecutive years, while composers who have received honorary mentions may apply. An older piece can be submitted, and previous public performance is permitted, provided the work has not already received an award. The panel reviews anonymously: scores and audio files must not contain the creator's name or other identifying clues, including file-sharing service profile names.
Choose one of two instrumentation options
Option A is a complete work of 7–10 minutes for the specific full chamber ensemble: flute (with possible alto flute or piccolo), B-flat clarinet (with possible bass clarinet), piano, one vibraphone performer, two violins, viola and cello. Option B is a complete 7–10-minute string quartet for two violins, viola and cello. The competition does not allow electronic instruments or electronic components. A composer should not submit a fragment or a work calling for different players from the stated lineup.
Submission method and materials
After 12 noon on 1 November, send the complete electronic application to 40plus@trinitylaban.ac.uk; submissions to other Foundation or Trinity Laban addresses are not accepted. In the covering email give name, contact email, phone, home address, work title, instrumentation and duration. Supply proof of identity; the official rules permit redacting passport or licence numbers while leaving the date of birth visible. Attach a PDF score named in the specified TITLE_INITIALS_DOB pattern and a private, accessible MP3 audio link, for which MIDI realisation is acceptable. Include a second PDF with a short biography, programme note of no more than 100 words, an assertion that the work has won no previous award and a good-quality portrait photograph. Double-check the precise filename conventions in the primary rules before sending.
Parts may be requested later. Audio quality is not a judging criterion, while legibility of the score matters. The organisers say receipt acknowledgements cannot routinely be supplied because of limited administrative capacity, so apply well before the final day and retain your sent message. The winning composer is responsible for their own travel costs to London for the performance.
About the Rosalie Coopman Music Foundation
Founded in 2022, the foundation supports the musical development of both young composers and those writing later in life. It began a partnership with Trinity Laban in 2024 and has already organised professional performances and awards linked to the London conservatoire. The foundation describes the 2026 Rosalie Ensemble performance at Trinity Laban and names 2026 prize and honorary mention recipients on its own website; this provides verifiable continuity behind the 2027 programme. As with any competition, no award may be given if the judges decide entries do not meet the required standard.
Secure application and verification
Always begin with the Foundation's current 2027 How to Apply page and the Trinity Laban application address printed there. Applicants should take care with identity documents: use the permitted redactions, confirm the recipient's domain and avoid sending files to impersonators. An international composer based outside the UK does not qualify under the currently published rules, even if they can travel to London.
This information was checked on 19 October 2026, before the opening of applications on 1 November. The published application portal and organiser's rules must be verified again at the opening date. No outcome is guaranteed.