The English Song Weekend offers young composers an outstanding opportunity to hear their music performed in the context of this major festival of English Song, and to work on their composition with one of the country's leading composers, Huw Watkins.

Entry to the competition is in two age categories:

• Category A: born between 1 January 1987 and 31 December 1991
• Category B: born between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1994

Entrants are asked to submit either a single setting of a text in English or a short group of songs (maximum 3). Accompaniment should be for piano, but reductions of instrumental accompaniment which can be realised on the piano will be accepted.

Entrants in Category B may wish to choose a text or texts from one or more of these poets: Emily Bronte, John Clare, Ivor Gurney, Christina Rossetti and Alfred Tennyson, Edward Thomas

Entrants in Category A may choose texts by any poet which were written originally in English.

Entries in each category will be scrutinised initially by PAUL SPICER (Chairman, Finzi Friends) and MARTIN BUSSEY (Chetham's School of Music & Manchester University). Following initial scrutiny the best THREE entries in each category will be forwarded to HUW WATKINS (Royal College of Music) for final placing.

• The winner of Category A will receive £500.
• The prize in Category B is £250.

All six finalists will be invited to participate in a workshop with Huw on the first day of the Festival in Ludlow on Thursday, June 3rd 2010.

At the festival there will be a private session in the morning during which Huw will offer advice and initiate discussion on the settings with the 6 finalists and other entrants, with student singers on hand to sing the songs in a workshop format, the session chaired by Martin Bussey. In the afternoon the winning songs will be performed by student singers in a public recital, accompanied by Christopher Gould, alongside further discussion with Huw Watkins.

All entrants to the competition will be invited to attend the Thursday workshops as audience and also be eligible for reduced price entrance to some concerts at the festival

Entries must be received by January 31st 2010. Three copies of each entry, together with a completed entry form, should be sent to:

Finzi Young Composers Competition,
25 Windermere Drive,
Ramsbottom, Bury,
Lancs, BL0 9YB

Entries cannot be returned.
The panel's decision is final.