Following a record year of entries in 2021, the BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition returns, with entrants writing a tune or a melody that could be the next Christmas hit.
Scottish poet Niall Campbell has written this year’s carol text, The Winter’s Brightening with those entering encouraged in a wide range of styles, from gospel to pop, rap to folk, jazz, classical and beyond.
Those aged 16 and over are eligible to enter, and all judging will be based solely on the tunes alone, with the panel given no information about the person behind each entry. The entries can once again be submitted as notated scores or phone voice recordings.
Six shortlisted finalists will have their compositions arranged for the BBC Singers, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
In charge of shortlisting the initial entries is a judging panel chaired by Choirmaster and star of the BBC’s The Choir and Pitch Battle, Gareth Malone. His fellow judges are composer, broadcaster and BBC Music Ambassador Yolanda Brown, choir director and regular adjudicator for the BBC’s Choir of the Year Manvinder Ratten, broadcaster, Artist in Association at the BBC Singers and director of music at Pembroke College Anna Lapwood, and classical music enthusiast, amateur pianist and former politician, Ed Balls.
Alan Davey, Controller BBC Radio 3 and classical music says: “In 2021 we were thrilled to have more entries than ever for the BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition, from all corners of the UK. This year, we hope that even more listeners across the country will feel inspired by Niall Campbell’s moving words to create their own melodies, in all musical styles – one of which will end up as our Radio 3 Carol Competition Winner. Thank you to our wonderful judging panel chaired by Gareth Malone – it will be wonderful working with you.”
Gareth Malone says: “I have seen how musically talented the public are, and know that within so many of us is a composer waiting to come out. The Radio 3 Carol Competition spotlights this tremendous creativity, celebrating the joy of Christmas and allowing new opportunities for people to engage with music. After two years of disruption, this year’s poem is particularly moving and will resonate with many, hopefully inspiring even more people to get involved in this year’s competition. We have a fantastic judging panel of music lovers and music makers and I can’t wait to hear the submissions.”
To find out more about how to enter and to submit melodies for BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition 2022, music lovers are invited to visit the competition website at bbc.co.uk/carolcompetition. The deadline for entries is 11.59pm on 1 November 2022.
The BBC 3 Carol Competition follows the success of last year’s which saw Tamiko Dooley from Surbiton crowned the winner of the 2021 BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition.
