Back Bay Chorale Christmas Carol Competition

BBC CHRISTMAS CAROL COMMISSION COMPETITION

Back Bay Chorale is thrilled to launch our inaugural Carol Commission Competition — an annual celebration of creativity, community, and the enduring magic of the Christmas carol

About the Competition

Each year, the Back Bay Chorale will commission a brand-new carol that embodies the spirit of the season and premieres at our beloved Boston Christmas concerts at Old South Church. The winning composer will receive a $2,500 prize and the opportunity to hear their work brought to life by our 100-voice ensemble.

Applications for the 2025 competition open on August 1, 2025.

We welcome submissions from emerging and established composers alike. Your carol need not be explicitly religious — we seek works that capture the warmth, wonder, and timeless resonance of the season in fresh and meaningful ways.

Your submission should contain the following 3 elements:

1. A brief proposal for the work, including a potential text or topic; the work should be approximatel 4-8 minutes in length.

2. A portfolio of 2-3 representative works (PDF scores; recordings optional but encouraged). At least one must be a choral work.

3. Three professional references with contact information

We will review your submission, reach out to you for interviews if necessary and announce the competion winner. The winner will then proceed with the new composition with a delivery deadline of November 1. There is a stipend available for travel of $500 to attend the performances (see below for dates)

Click on the button below to submit your materials.
Note: You will need a google account to upload your submission - a gmail account or a plain google account will work. You can get a generic google account by clicking on "create an account" here - in order to make this submission. If this is an issue for you or if you have any other questions , please send a note to "carols at bbcboston dot org" and we'll respond.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A SUBMISSION

Key Dates

August 1 - September 1: Applications open

September 1-20: Review & interviews

September 20: Winner announced

November 1: Final Score due

Premiere: December 2025 at BBC’s Boston Christmas concerts.

Submissions will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of choral leaders and composers, including Back Bay Chorale Music Director Steve Spinelli, Donald Nally (The Crossing), Michael Gilbertson (Pulitzer Prize finalist, Boston Conservatory at Berklee), and GRAMMY-winning soprano Rebecca Myers (Variant 6).
Through this competition, we honor the carol’s rich tradition while nurturing bold new artistic voices — enriching our audience’s experience and adding a new gem to the choral canon each year.

COMPETITION JUDGES

Stephen Spinelli - Music Director, Back Bay Chorale. Full Bio

Donald Nallyis a Grammy-winning conductor and visionary collaborator who has commissioned over 200 works and produced 37 recordings with his ensemble The Crossing, earning four Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance. His work spans major orchestras, opera houses, and art institutions worldwide, including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A champion of socially engaged music, he is Director of Choral Studies at Westminster Choir College and John W. Beattie Chair of Music Emeritus at Northwestern University. MORE...

Michael Gilbertson is an associate professor of composition at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and a 2018 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in music. He is also the longtime artistic director of ChamberFest Dubuque and has held residencies with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and Copland House. His music—praised by The New York Times, Washington Post, and Philadelphia Inquirer—has been performed by major orchestras, choirs, and dance companies around the world. MORE...

Philadelphia-based soprano Rebecca Myers is a versatile soloist and recording artist celebrated for her “timbral clarity and flawless pitch.” She is the Artistic Director and founding soprano of Variant 6, where she curates adventurous vocal programs spanning centuries. A three-time Grammy Award winner, she has performed with The Crossing, Seraphic Fire, Apollo’s Fire, and made recent debuts with the New World Symphony and Verità Baroque. MORE...

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We are proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health's WIC Nutrition Program, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and hundreds of cultural organizations across Massachusetts by expanding cultural access for low-income and working families.

EBT cardholders receive $5 admission to concerts for up to four people per card. Please leave your name and phone number at 617-648-3885 to reserve. See the complete list of participating organizations offering EBT discounts.

COVID-19 Policy: At this time, there is no vaccine checking or masking requirement at Back Bay Chorale events.

BBC Christmas Carol Commission Competition