Leeds Philharmonic 2nd Christmas Carol Competition – Winner Announced

We held our second Phil Christmas Carol Competition during the autumn of 2019 as part of our charities aim to promote awareness of the beauty and benefits of choral singing.  

A cash prize of £750.00 together with publication of the winning carol by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) meant that the competition attracted 76 high quality entrants from around the world.  While many of the entries came from the UK, we have been blown away again by the fully worldwide response and overall quality of the entries submitted.

The competition was judged by Joseph Judge, Simon Lindley, David Hill MBE (Music Director of the Leeds Phil), and Tim Ruffer (RSCM).

We are pleased to announce that the winning Carol is ‘Cradle Song’, which was submitted by Christopher Artley, from New Zealand.

Even more surprising – despite the blind judging – Chris won the first competion with ‘Christmas Bells’ in 2017.

Although Chris lives in New Zealand, Chris is a Leeds lad, born here in 1963, moving and going to Barrowcliffe School in Scarborough and then moving again and going to Cannon Slade School, Bolton.  As a Bristol University music graduate, he has spent 30 years teaching music in schools in the United Kingdom and New Zealand where he is now resident, and teaches at King’s College, Auckland.   Over the last ten years he has become a multi award-winning composer.

‘Cradle Song’ will be premiered at this year’s Lord Mayor’s Carol Concerts on the 19th December at Leeds Town Hall. Do come along and hear it.