Composer Competition for Gallipoli Centenary
2015 is the centenary of the Gallipoli landings. As part of commemorations, Australia’s ABC Classic FM and Radio New
Zealand Concert are inviting Australian and New Zealand composers to submit original compositions in their joint
competition Gallipoli Songs.
A grant of $30,000 has been generously provided by Australia’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs through the Major
Commemorative Grants category of the Saluting their Service program to assist with running the competition.
The Anzac Centenary Program will mark a Century of Service, encompassing all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations
in which Australians and many New Zealanders have been involved.
In Gallipoli Songs, Australian and New Zealand composers are invited to set authentic Gallipoli texts to music. The
texts can be from original letters, diaries or any personal writing related to the Gallipoli campaign. The material can
be already published, held in national institutions or be part of private family archives.
Prize money of $5,000 per composition will be awarded to six Gallipoli Songs that best communicate the experiences of
the original Anzacs and their loved ones. In addition, the winning compositions will be professionally performed,
recorded and broadcast on Anzac Day 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. The judging panel will consist of Australian
soprano Merlyn Quaife, composer Elliott Gyger and Stephen Adams from ABC Classic FM alongside Kate Mead from Radio New
Zealand Concert and prolific composer Dame Gillian Whitehead.
To obtain a selection of relevant texts with permissions already assured, email australianmusic@abc.net.au
For more information on how to enter visit www.abc.net.au/classic
The closing date for submissions is 20 October 2014.
ENDS