Young Composers / Terms

Terms and Conditions

1. The BBC's code of conduct for competitions applies to this competition. You can read more about it here: BBC Competitions Policy

2. The competition is open to UK residents (including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) only. Overseas entries will not be considered. Entrants will be judged in two categories, the first for those aged between 12 and 16 at the closing date, and the second for those aged between 17 and 18 year old at the closing date. Entrants under 16 must provide signed consent from a parent or guardian.

3. The competition is not open to employees of, or the close relatives of employees the BBC, their agencies or anyone else connected with the creation or administration of the Competition.

4. Entries must be sent by post to: Young Composers' Competition, 14 Lakeside, PO BOX 105, Rochester, Kent ME2 4BE. Entries must include two musical scores of the composition, along with two recordings on CD and a completed entry form (which can be downloaded from bbc.co.uk/proms). Entries cannot be returned so please remember to keep a copy.

5. Entrants must provide the BBC with names and addresses and other contact details. The BBC will only ever use personal details for the purposes of administering this competition. Please see the BBC Privacy Policy.

6. Entries should last no longer than 5 minutes and scores should be submitted on single sided A4 paper (using as many sheets as necessary), unbound and in a clear plastic envelope. There are no restrictions on instrumentation, which may include acoustic and/or electronic instruments and computer-generated sounds.

7. Entrants may enter only one composition. If entrants submit more than one entry only the first entry will be judged and all other entries will be disregarded.

8. The deadline for receiving entries is 6pm on 28 May 2010. Submissions received after this time will not be considered. For the avoidance of doubt, as your entry is submitted by post, your entry must reach us by no later than 6pm on 28 May 2010.

9. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
a) compositional idea
b) originality
c) creativity
d) appropriate technical ability

10. Entries will be judged through the following process:

Stage One

* Entries (score and CD recording) will be sent to two of six first stage judges with enough time for each judge to create a short list of entries based on the criteria outlined above.

* Each judge is asked to shortlist a maximum of fifteen entries.

Stage Two

* The six shortlists will then be collated and the six stage one judges will be joined by two further judges.

* All eight judges will then listen to the shortlisted entries in alphabetical order. Judges cannot reveal their own stage one preferences before entries are seen and heard by all judges.

* Winners and highly commended entrants will then by decided after discussion and agreement amongst judges based on the criteria outlined above.

11. There will be up to three winners and up to five highly commended entrants in each category.

12. Winners will have their winning entries performed by professional musicians and broadcast on Radio (subject to technical and operational possibility). Winners will also be given the opportunity to compose a new piece of music especially for the BBC Proms (i.e. they will receive a commission from the BBC Proms) which may be included at the Proms festival and broadcast by the BBC (subject to quality, suitability and technical and operational possibility). They will attend workshop days with the Proms team and professional composers to work on their commissioned composition. The commission is part of the prize and therefore winners will not be paid for the commission. Winners under the age of 16 must be accompanied to and from the workshops by an adult. The BBC will refund reasonable travel costs to and from the workshops.

13. Highly commended entrants may also have their entries broadcast and will be invited to attend workshop days. Highly commended entrants under the age of 16 must be accompanied to and from the workshops by an adult. The BBC will refund reasonable travel costs to and from the workshops.

14. The BBC's decision as to who the winners are will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.

15. Winners and highly commended entrants will be contacted personally by email, telephone or by mail on or before 9 July 2010. If a winner is unable to be contacted after reasonable attempts have been made the BBC reserves the right to offer their prize to a highly commended entrant.

16 The prize must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. There will be no cash alternatives.

17. Entrants supplying recordings/scores and those who receive commissions from the BBC agree to grant the BBC an exclusive licence to use such entries and commissions in all media for all the purposes of the competition including without limitation transmission on radio and streaming on the internet and making copies or new recordings, if required. In connection with BBC's planned usage of the entries and commissions, entrants must ensure that: a) works submitted are original b) any other musicians performing have agreed to it being used for all purposes of the competition - but please note professional musicians' performances on entries and commissions broadcast / streamed on the internet will be dealt with in accordance with the BBC's agreements with the Musicians' Union or under such other arrangements as normally apply.

18. Entrants must warrant that their entries are original, entirely their own work and do not infringe copyright or other third party rights.

19. The BBC does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to the postal service. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.

20. Entrants must supply full details as required above, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the prize. No responsibility is accepted for ineligible entries or entries made fraudulently.

21. The BBC reserves the right to cancel this competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control.

22. The BBC cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any server, Internet access system, the post or otherwise which may result in any entry being lost or not properly registered or recorded. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.

23. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition. Winning entrants will be expected to take part in post-competition publicity if required.

24. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.