Bournemouth Symphony Launches New Competition for Amateur Musicians

The Lark Music-Making Competition invites amateurs to perform a 3-minute piece, themed around birdsong

The UK's Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) recently announced the launch of its new Lark Music-Making Competition, which is specifically targeted at amateur musicians. The competition will be run online, and participants will upload a short, 3-minute video of their performance.

A total prize pool of £3,000 is available, with £1,000 being allocated to the winner of each of the three age categories (18-24, 25-39, and 40+).

The money should be used to further the winner's music-making; this could include goals such as investing in a new instrument, upgrading home recording gear, or working towards a specific goal.

All finalists will also receive a subscription to the BSO's Digital Concert Series, which offers access to 19 broadcasts of concerts for 30 days after the original performance.

The competition is being run in association with Lark Music Insurance, and accordingly, the theme for the 2025 competition is music that is connected to birds — whether through its title, mood, or theme. Participants can choose either to interpret existing pieces or to submit their own compositions, provided that their entries are their own performance.

The jury will comprise a range of musicians, producers, and broadcasters, including presenter Tom Service, violinist Tania Davis, and conductor Enyi Okpara.

Entry is free and is open until June 25, 2025. You can find out more here.

"We can’t wait to hear what you’ll do with this brief — the creative possibilities around birds and birdsong are endless," said Lucy Warren, competition judge and joint head of BSO Participate. "Whether it’s a classical work, jazz or world music, or a brand-new creation, this is all about personality, expression and joy in music-making. However you play, we can’t wait to hear your music."

"We’re proud to launch the Lark Music-Making Competition with our partners at Lark Music, which will celebrate the millions of people who make music in homes, sheds, churches and community halls across the UK," said Dougie Scarge OBE, the BSO's Chief Executive. "We see the transformative impact of music every day — this competition is our way of shining a spotlight on that remarkable passion and talent."