Closing Date for Entries is 5pm on 9th June 2025

Jackdaws, Somerset Music, and Dorset Music Service, on behalf of the Octagon Music Hub are pleased to announce the Somerset & Dorset Schools Choir Competition 24/25 :

Somerset & Dorset Schools Choir Competition

Do you have a choir in your school?

Here’s your chance to make some brilliant music AND win some money for your school to put towards your music budget so you can make even more music together!

Simply record and upload two contrasting pieces by  closing date of 5pm on 9th June 2025.

Judges: Alan Burgess—eminent local Choir Leader, and Saffron van Zwanenberg—Jackdaws Artistic Director.

To enter please fill in the form here:

Entry Form

You can also download this poster to display.

Prizes

Gold Primary £200
Silver Primary £125
Bronze Primary £75
Gold Secondary £200
Silver Secondary £125
Bronze Secondary £75
Gold SEND £200
Silver SEND £125
Bronze SEND £75

Special prizes:

Most Active Action Song £100
Best Round £100
Excellent Diction £100
Most dynamic Dynamics! £100
Great at starting and stopping together £100
2 Priority places at the Wells Christmas Concert  

Competition Rules

Download and print here.

  • Schools entering must be maintained schools or academies in Somerset or Dorset.
  • Children in the Primary category must be aged 11 or under and young people in the Secondary category must be between ages 11 and 18 on 23rd of July 2025.
  • The choir must be of mixed age group, this can be across the whole school or a Key Stage for example, but cannot be a class.
    Each choir should sing two contrasting pieces of their own choice lasting a maximum of 7 minutes. These can be uploaded as one or as two recordings.
  • Each recording must have someone (likely to be choir leader) state the date the recording is being made on camera at the beginning.
  • The recording of each item must be in one take. An entry will be disqualified if there is evidence of such enhancements as dynamic processing, use of auto-tuners, tracking and layering of voices, editing and mixing or any other electronic enhancement. 
  • The format for each recording must be video only.
  • Each video must be clearly labelled with the school name, song name and choir e.g. St Mary’s, Ave Maria, KS1 choir Song 1.
  • The videos must be submitted via this secure link – Once you have submitted your recording the screen will show that ‘Jackdaws Music’ will be notified that your file has been uploaded and you will receive a confirmation email from dropbox (please check spam, if no email received contact music@jackdaws.org).
  • Entries for consideration must be submitted no later than 5pm June 9th 2025.  Entries after this date will not be accepted.
  • The conductor must not sing with the choir.
  • Choirs may use a backing track, however this must be an instrumental version and must not contain any vocals. 
  • The prizes must be allocated to the music budget of the winning schools.
    Performances will be judged on the following criteria: Intonation, tone quality, diction, ensemble, balance, blend, interpretation of music and text, dynamics, phrasing and communication. The suitability of the chosen songs will also be taken into consideration by the judges. 
  • The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the results. The panel also reserves the right not to award a prize if they feel it is not merited. 
  • No correspondence will be entered into on comments or rules and regulations by either judges or organisers.
  • By entering the competition, participating choirs agree to be bound by the rules and regulations of the competition. 

SEND competition rules – differences from other rules are highlighted in bold.

Download and print here.

  • Schools entering must be maintained schools or academies in Somerset or Dorset.
  • The SEND category can include any young people aged from 5-19.
    Each choir should sing two contrasting pieces of their own choice lasting a maximum of 7 minutes. These can be uploaded as one or as two recordings.
  • Each recording must have someone (likely to be choir leader) state the date the recording is being made on camera at the beginning.
  • The recording of each item must be in one take. An entry will be disqualified if there is evidence of such enhancements as dynamic processing, use of auto-tuners, tracking and layering of voices, editing and mixing or any other electronic enhancement.
  • The format for each recording must be video only.
  • Each video must be clearly labelled with the school name, song name and choir e.g. St Mary’s, Ave Maria, KS1 choir Song 1.
  • The videos must be submitted via this secure link – Once you have submitted your recording the screen will show that ‘Jackdaws Music’ will be notified that your file has been uploaded and you will receive a confirmation email from dropbox (please check spam, if no email received contact music@jackdaws.org).
  • Entries for consideration must be submitted no later than 5pm June 9th 2025.  Entries after this date will not be accepted.
  • The conductor may sing with the choir.
  • Other support staff may also join in and support the choir in any appropriate way.
  • Choirs may use a backing track and this may have a vocal line.
    Signing, makaton and actions are warmly welcomed.
  • Use of instruments such as hand percussion and technology such as thumbjam to support participation is also allowed.
  • The prizes must be allocated to the music budget of the winning schools.
  • Performances will be judged on the following criteria: Performance and presentation, interpretation of music and text, dynamics, phrasing and communication. The suitability of the chosen songs will also be taken into consideration by the judges. 
  • The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the results. The panel also reserves the right not to award a prize if they feel it is not merited. 
  • No correspondence will be entered into on comments or rules and regulations by either judges or organisers.
  • By entering the competition, participating choirs agree to be bound by the rules and regulations of the competition.