BBC CHRISTMAS CAROL COMMISSION COMPETITION
Back Bay Chorale is thrilled to launch our 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 A 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 are reviewed by a panel of internationally recognized artists and should include a proposal and a portfolio of existing work. The selected composer will be commissioned in time to complete the carol for this holiday season.
We are now accepting applications for the 2026 Carol Commission Competition.
We welcome submissions from established and emerging composers alike. Your carol need not be explicitly religious — we seek all works that capture the warmth, wonder, and timeless resonance of the season in fresh and meaningful ways. Application closes August 14, 2026, 5pm.
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.
Our judges panel will review your submission, reach out to you for interviews if necessary and announce the competition winner. The selected composer will receive the commission to write a new carol with a delivery deadline of November 1. A cash prize of $2,500 will be awarded to the chosen winner. A $500 travel stipend is available for travel to attend the performances.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION
If you have any questions , please send a note to "carols at bbcboston dot org".
PAST WINNERS
2025: Michael Cheng
Premiere: December 2025 at BBC’s Boston Christmas concerts.
OUR COMPETITION JUDGES
Submissions are evaluated by an esteemed panel of choral leaders and composers, including Back Bay Chorale Music DirectorSteve 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.