2009 Royal Canadian College of Organists
Composition Competition

2009 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (Le Collège Royal Canadien des Organistes), originally founded in 1909 as the ‘Canadian Guild of Organists’ and renamed in 1920. It was granted the prefix 'Royal' in 1959, although the name was not legally changed until 1980, and currently operates as a national association for organists and church musicians in Canada.

To mark this special occasion, AFNOM 2009 is running a composition competition alongside the main exhibitions. Composers of any age or nationality are invited to write a three-minute

'Fanfare to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Canadian College of Organists'

to open the festival-recital being given in Westminster Abbey by the celebrated Canadian concert organist Maxine Thévenot on Sunday 2nd August. The title does not necessarily have to include the word ‘Fanfare’ although the nature of the piece should be as such. The winning work will also be published in Canada and subsequently recorded. Several 'runners-up' will also be featured elswhere during the festival and published in a special centenary collection called 'Anniversary Fanfares'

To enter the competition, download the general application form and fill it out in the usual way. Mark in the relevant checkbox that your work is for entry to the competition and send it, together with two copies of the score and entry fee of £40 (forty pounds sterling), to the Festival Director no later than 1st April 2009.

All entries to the competition will be automatically considered for inclusion in the exhibitions during the rest of the festival in London and ‘Organo Novo’ in Helsinki. Acknowledgement of receipt will be given by email and the winning piece will be announced online before 1st May. Please remember to complete the ‘performer’ section of the application form in the event that your piece is selected for an exhibiton-concert.

NB: Scores should be presented as clearly as possible (preferably typeset) and bound. Your name and any dedication should appear on the title page along with copyright information.

Further details
about the history of the RCCO