This article originally appeared in Choir & Organ magazine.
As in 2020, the competition encourages submissions in all musical styles, from gospel to pop; jazz to folk; and beyond – delivered as notated scores or mobile phone-generated voice recordings. Any music lover aged 16 + is able to enter, and all judging is done on the merits of the tunes alone, with the panel given no information about the composers.
Submissions are welcomed in a wide-range of styles and will be judged by a panel chaired by Anna Lapwood, and including Karen Gibson, Reverend Richard Coles, and Jumoké Fashola among others.
Carol Competition 2021 timeline
Monday 6 September – Radio 3 launches 2021 competition and calls for entries
Tuesday 2 November – entries close
Wednesday 15 December – announcement of six shortlisted pieces on Breakfast. Voting opens
Tuesday 21 December – voting closes
Wednesday 22 December – Carol Competition 2021 Winner announced on Breakfast