HCS Choral Composition Competition 2026-2027
A new season of creativity is here.
See information below for upcoming dates and details on how to share your music with us.
Sponsored by: JW Pepper
HCS encourages composers of all education levels, backgrounds, and ages 13+ to apply.
New This Year: Two Tracks!
Main Competition for entrants 18 and over.
Junior Track for entrants 13-18 still in High School
Main Competition
2 Winners
$750 Prize for Each Winner
Premiere Performance by HCS
And other prizes
Junior Track
1 Chosen for a $250 scholarship
Top Five invited to Virtual Master Class
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June 15: Submission portal opens
September 1: Entry Fee and Intent to submit form deadline
October 1: Full score & final materials deadline
December 1: Winner notification
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SATB
Piano accompaniment required
3-5 minutes
Sacred or Secular
CLICK HERE for full competition details.
Houston Choral Society’s Choral Composition Competition was created to promote new choral music and to invite aspiring composers to create new choral repertoire.
The competition will be adjudicated by a specially convened panel.
Compositions should be newly composed for the competition, without the use/aid of artificial intelligence, and should be unpublished.
No entries older than January 1, 2025.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTICIPATE?
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STEP 1
READ COMPETITION GUIDELINES FOR FULL DETAILS.
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STEP 2
COMPLETE AN “INTENT TO SUBMIT” FORM NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026
After your $25 Entry Fee and Information is collected, you'll receive a link to your submission folder and full instructions.
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STEP 3
REVIEW THE SUBMISSION CHECKLIST AND START UPLOADING YOUR ITEMS
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STEP 4
NOTIFY US AT CONTEST@HOUSTONCHORAL.ORG WHEN YOUR SUBMISSION IS COMPLETE AND FINAL NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1ST, 2026
After your final submission, you'll receive an official acceptance or a request for adjustments.
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Winners will be notified December 1, 2026
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QUESTIONS?
email: contest@houstonchoral.org
HCS Choral Composition Winners
Hall of Fame
HCS Choral Composition Competition 2025/2026 Winners
“Red River Valley” by Zachary Doyle from Louisville, KY
Zachary Doyle is a music educator, vocalist, instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter based in Louisville, Kentucky. He holds a degree in Music Education from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky, with additional graduate coursework at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. As an educator, his ensembles have appeared on some of the most prestigious stages in the United States, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City.
“The Oxen” by Robert Dierdorf from Katy, TX
Robert Dierdorf is an active accompanist, composer, church musician, and a retired High School Choir Director residing in Katy, TX. At Indiana University, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition and a Master’s in Choral conducting. His Texas All-Level Music Certificate was from the University of Texas at El Paso, and he did doctoral studies at UT Austin.
2024 - 2025 Winners
Joseph Fong
”Dormi Jesu”
Regarding the competition, I thought that it was very well run, and the competition rules clear and sensible. I think the requirement of piano accompaniment is a good idea. It sets your competition apart, as most other competitions call for unaccompanied pieces or optional accompaniment.”
Naomi LaViolette
”Racing the Moon”
“I felt great about your contest procedures. Thanks again for sharing my music with your audience!”