St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, and the St Paul’s Cathedral Music Foundation, are holding an International Worship Song Competition to find a new celebratory Pauline song.
CALL FOR ENTRIES
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St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral Melbourne is delighted to announce an international worship song competition being held in 2026, and for the winning entry (or entries) to be sung as part of worship. The aim of the competition is to encourage the composition of verse-chorus songs which focus on St Paul’s life and/or teachings, with particular reference to 2 Corinthians 5.16-21:
‘From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we no longer know him in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’
2 Corinthians 5.16-21
Quick facts:
- Entries must be original songs
- The use of generative AI is not permitted
- Deadline for submissions is 5pm on 9 October 2026 (Melbourne local time)
- Entries should be submitted to welcome@stpaulscathedral.org.au or sent to 209 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000.
- Judging will be completed by late November 2026
- The total prize money will be $2,500
Guidelines
1. One person (or group) of persons may submit up to a total of four entries.
2. Each should be a newly composed text set to newly composed music. The text and/or music may be by one person, or more than one, in conjunction. Its style should be a song, primarily to be sung in unison, with a keyboard accompaniment and chord symbols.
3. Songs previously published or currently entered in other contests may not be submitted. It is permissible, however, even preferable to have a local worshipping community or other group ‘perform’ your song before submitting it. In addition to sheet music, recordings may be submitted.
4. Entries are to avoid old fashioned and/or gender exclusive language, such as ‘O brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother’.
5. Copyright of the winning song text/s and music will remain with the composers, but fair use by St Paul’s Cathedral and the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne should be inferred for winning items.
6. The use of generative AI is not permitted in the creation of entries for this competition.
7. The entries may be sung in performances and services as desired by St Paul’s Cathedral and the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, and may be published by the Cathedral.
8.
a. Entry is open to all who are neither competition judges nor their spouses.
b. Entrants should either (a) provide a copy of each song; or (b) submit scanned song by email; entries will be anonymised prior to judging.
c. Entrants have the option of submitting an audio-only recording in addition to the printed or scanned song.
d. All entrants should provide a cover letter with their full name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, and the title of the entry or entries. All entries will be acknowledged within two weeks of receipt.
9. All entries must be submitted by 5pm local Melbourne time on 9 October 2026 to:
Song Competition, St Paul’s Cathedral, 209 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
or by email to welcome@stpaulscathedral.org.au
10. Judging
a. The judging panel will comprise the Dean of Melbourne, Andreas Loewe and/or the Precentor of St Paul’s Cathedral, Tim Watson; the Director of Music of St Paul’s, Philip Nicholls; a Cathedral Canon and School Chaplain, Helen Dwyer; and musician and liturgical scholar, Fay Magee. If a particular judge is unavailable, a deputy with similar skills will be appointed.
b. Judging will be completed without judges knowing composers’ identities.
c. The judges will arrive at their decision by 27 November 2026, and their decision is final. The winning entry will be announced after the winner has been notified. Only one winning entry is anticipated, but the judges may decide to split the prize among several co-winners. The judges also reserve the right not to select any entry as a winner. Each entrant will receive notification of the contest winners.
11. The total prize money will be $2,500AUD, which may be divided between co-winners, as mentioned above.