Our 15th Holiday Carol Commission Competition

The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir’s Holiday Carol Commission Competition is an important part of our commitment to the future of choral music. Submitted works must be original, unpublished, and have not been publicly performed; between 3 and 5 minutes long; written for SATB, mixed adult choir; and may be a cappella or utilize keyboard accompaniment. Text and language are at the discretion of the composer and should be suitable for a Christmas/holiday performance.

Winners of the Commission Competition have been published by these and other publishers: EC Schirmer, Shawnee Press, Beckenhorst Press.

Composers 35 years of age or younger (as of December 1, 2025) who are United States citizens or legal residents will be eligible to submit one composition via email (PDF) to the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir (2025 deadline TBA). Compositions must be in PDF format and emailed to commission@indychoir.org. No consideration will be given to entries received after the deadline. Submitted materials will not be returned. Questions may be e-mailed to commission@indychoir.org. There is no entry fee, although a submission form must accompany the composition.

Text and language are at the discretion of the composer, with the following requirements: the text should be suitable for a Christmas or Holiday (secular texts are permitted) performance, and the text should be from a non-liturgical tradition (for example, contemporary poetry or verse (secular or sacred), hymn texts and the like are permitted, while texts such as “Ave Maria,” “Gloria” or “Hodie Christus Natus Est” are discouraged. The winner’s selected composition will be performed by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir at its annual Festival of Carols performances in Indianapolis, and the winner will also be awarded a cash prize of $2,500 for the world premiere in December 2025.

Previous Commission Winners

“GOOD NEWS!” 2023
Daniel Watson

“O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM” 2022
Andrew Huish

“GATHER ROUND THE HOLY MANGER” 2021
Joyce Vickery

“HEART OF GOD” 2020
Francisco Carbonell

“THE CHRIST CHILD” 2019
Jonathan Reid

“RISE ANON” 2018
Sean Kisch

“SUSANNI (A Little Child There is Ybore)” 2017
Saunder Choi

“CHRISTMAS HOSANNA” 2016
Rob Swenson

“ALL MY HEART THIS NIGHT REJOICES” 2013
Brian Buda

“STILL, STILL, STILL” 2012
Joey Hoelscher

“A CHILD OF THE SNOWS” 2011
Christina Whitten Thomas

“QUEM PASTORES LAUDAVERE” 2010
Daniel J. Knaggs

“LULLABY CAROL” 2009
Molly Ijames

“GLORIA” 2008
Michael K. Runyan and Pamela G. Runyan