2026 Ralph Morton Memorial Choral Composition Competition

The National Youth Choir of Australia (NYCA) is proud to announce the third Ralph Morton Memorial Choral Composition Competition. The competition is open to Australian composers for an unpublished choral work that has not previously been performed. The prize-winning work will be presented by NYCA at a premiere performance during the NYCA season in July 2026.

  • No Entry Fee Required

  • Closing date Monday, February 6, 2026

  • Winning entry awarded a $2500 (AUD) cash prize

Composition Checklist

Scoring
The work should be for unaccompanied mixed chamber choir

Style
The musical style is up to the composer, but commercial styles are not acceptable

Level of difficulty
The composition should be challenging but performable, and accessible to a general
audience. NYCA is a highly skilled chamber choir of around 28 singers between the ages of 18 and
26 years. Further information about the level of the choir may be found through our YouTube channel.

Text
The text, preferably in English and in the public domain, should be age-appropriate and suitable for national and international performance. Permission to use copyright text must be obtained by the composer and documented before submission of any entry.
The text should preferably be secular but sacred texts will be considered.

Length
The length of the work should be approximately 5-8 minutes, but longer compositions may be considered.

Deadline and Submission
The deadline for submission is Monday, February 6, 2026. The work should be typeset or presented in clear and neat manuscript. It may be submitted in hard copy or as an electronic attachment to:

The Artistic Director - nancell@netspace.net.au
National Youth Choir of Australia
2 Wall Court, CHADSTONE VIC 3148

 The winning entry will be awarded a cash prize of $2500 (AUD).

Conditions

  • The composer must be an Australian citizen or be able to demonstrate permanent resident status in Australia.

  • A condition of accepting the prize will be granting first performance rights to NYCA and exclusive performance and recording rights for up to one year from the first performance.

  • The NYCA Board reserves the right not to award any prize, to reserve or partially distribute the prize money, and/or to negotiate modifications to submitted scores.

  • Works other than the winning entry may be chosen for performance; in which case performing fees will be negotiated.