Eligibility
 

• Open to professional singer and pianist duos based full time in the UK/Republic of Ireland. 

• All voice types

• No upper age limit

• Both singer and pianist must both be available for both the live rounds (January 19th and 24th) 

• Entries cost £17 per person non-refundable administration fee. Pianists who do not wish to be considered for the prizes are exempt. Pianists who do wish to compete need only pay one entry fee, even if they are playing for more than one singer (Pianists - please submit one form for each duo you are entering with, and only select 'yes' to paid entry for one of your submissions.  

​

​

Terms and Conditions

• Please note that applications submitted after November 28th or submitted without recordings/programme/application fee will not be considered.

• The jury's decision at any stage of the competition is final, not open to discussion or correspondence and not subject to legal appeal.

• The entry fee is non-refundable.

​

Repertoire

 

Art songs in English by British/Irish women composers of the past 150 years**, including songs chosen from the set list 

​

First Round (Recording):

• Two art songs in English by women composers submitted on video or audio recording by November 28th latest (please provide URLs for these - YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud etc) These can be by any woman Composer, including non-British composers, as long as it is written in English. This does NOT have to include songs by Rebecca Clarke.

• Videos are preferred but if it is impossible to provide videos then audio-only will be accepted. 

• These do not need to be professionally made but please make sure the sound quality is clear enough to represent you well.

 

Semi-Final (Public performance at ROSL, 19 Jan 2026): 

• 10-12 minutes of English song by British/Irish women composers of the past 150 years** (see guide list)

• Including at least two songs by Rebecca Clarke from the set list 

• Including at least one song by a living British/Irish woman composer (see guide list)

• Repertoire from the recorded submissions round may be repeated. 

 

Final (Public performance at ROSL, 24 Jan 2026 7pm): 

• 17-20 minute programme of English Song repertoire by British/Irish women composers of the past 150 years** (see guide list)

• Including at least three songs by Rebecca Clarke from the set list 

• Including at least one song by a living British/Irish woman composer (see guide list)

• A maximum of two songs may be repeated from either of the previous rounds (excluding the song by a living woman, which may be repeated multiple times)

 

Please note: The song The Seal Man is not eligible for the competition* - See note on repertoire set list

​

** songs written in the past 150 years. Composers can be born before 1875 but songs must have been written post 1875 where it is possible to find dates of publication/writing.

​

​

All competitors must include repertoire from the set list as detailed below. 

 

Set Repertoire: 

 

Please note you are welcome to make transpositions where needed. All transposed copies should be used only for performance and reference copies for the adjudicators. No sales of these copies should be made without formal permission from the rights holder. 

 

You will need to present 2 songs from the list below in the semi-final round, and 3 from this list in the final round.

Click here for full repertoire requirements

​