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A biennial competition for 12 to 18 year olds across the UK who create their own original music. Winners participate in a tailored development programme working with a mentor composer on a project with the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra, culminating in a performance or broadcast opportunity. Previous mentors include Gavin Higgins, Helen Grime, Rhian Samuel, Martin Suckling, Dobrinka Tabakova and Errollyn Wallen.

It's very important that you read the Rules for the competition in their entirety for full details on how to submit your entry.

The closing date for entries is 4pm on Thursday 25th September 2025. Late and/or invalid entries will be disqualified. If you’re aged 12 to 16, a parent/guardian, or teacher (aged 18 or over) must enter on your behalf. Teachers must ensure parental/guardian consent is provided and that the parent/guardian agrees to the competition Rules. If you need any further information or require clarification on these rules please contact a member of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Young Composer team.

Before submitting your entry, please make sure you read the competition Rules ²¹²Ô»å Privacy Notice.

Please refer to the Rules for full details on how to submit a valid entry.

You can enter using the Competition Entry Form.

The closing date for entries is 4pm on Thursday 25th September 2025. Please ensure that you leave more than enough time to complete the entry form and upload process. Any entries received after this time and date will not be entered in the competition. Please also note that we cannot accept entries via email - entries will only be accepted via the entry form and uploader.

Our aim is to be as inclusive as possible – please inform us of anything which may require reasonable adjustments to enable you to enter ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Young Composer 2025. This could include any disability or access requirements and anything you can think might get in the way of you feeling confident enough to apply.

Each year entries are judged by a panel of leading composers and music industry professionals who are passionate about finding and developing young talent. The 2023 Competition judges were Lloyd Coleman, Shiva Feshareki, Abimaro Gunnell, Gavin Higgins, Cassie Kinoshi, Eímear Noone, David Pickard and Katie Tearle.

The 2025 judges will be announced soon!

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Young Composer brings together some of the UK’s brightest young talent to meet, explore and share ideas at workshops, concerts and events throughout the year. The scheme has provided a platform for talented young composers including previous competition winning and highly commended entrants Shiva Feshareki, Kate Whitley, Tom Harrold, Alissa Firsova, Mark Simpson, Toby Young, Lloyd Coleman and Duncan Ward.

Winning and highly commended composers are also invited to become part of a growing team of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Young Composer Ambassadors, giving our alumni a chance to continue a relationship with the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Proms beyond the age of 18.
Many of our recent alumni have gone on to receive additional commissions from the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ including:

• Will Everitt, for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra – The Music and Meditation Podcast, 2023
• Sarah Jenkins, for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra – The Music and Meditation Podcast/ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Proms, 2022
• Xia Leon Sloane, for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra, 2020
• Helena Paish and Electra Perivolaris, for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Singers – Radio 3 International Women’s Day, 2020
• Grace-Evangeline Mason – ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Proms At…Stage@TheDock, 2017
• Tom Harrold, for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra – Last Night of the Proms, 2016

We want everyone to have the opportunity to take part and benefit from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Young Composer, nurturing and showcasing their original talent. Therefore, if you have any concerns regarding access or you know of barriers to entry, please get in contact with us on the details below.

If you have any questions about ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Young Composer please contact a member of the team by emailing young.composer@bbc.co.uk or calling 0207 765 0557 during office hours (10am-5pm). Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply.

If you’re a teacher or music education professional who would like to speak to a member of the team about how we can support you and your students, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Music can make you feel different emotions. Some music makes you feel happy or excited, while other music makes you feel sad or scared. In writing music we describe our feelings and emotions as a way to evoke memories, or as a way of letting others know how we feel. Sometimes, the process can be mentally and physically draining and we want you to know there are many sources of support available to you. You should always talk to a trusted adult (parent, carer, teacher etc) or your GP if you are feeling unwell, but if you would like to access online support, we advise you to check out some great websites through ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Action Line.