The London Choral Crown: more than a trophy

Every competition has a prize. Very few have a symbol. At the London Choral Competition 2027 - Sing for the Crown!, taking place in London from 14 to 17 July 2027, the Grand Prix is decided for one object alone: the London Choral Crown, a bespoke golden crown created for this competition and awarded to the conductor of the winning choir.

The crown carries the competition's name engraved in gold, a rampant lion at its heart and a treble clef rising above it - a small reminder that everything here begins with music. It is not a cup that sits on a shelf. It is a coronation, performed on stage at the Gala Crowning Ceremony in front of every choir, juror and guest.

And the crown is only the beginning. The conductor who wins the Grand Prix is invited to join the international jury of the London Choral Competition in 2028. One year you stand before the jury; the next, you sit among them. We believe this is the highest form of recognition a competition can offer: not a medal, but a place among the musicians who shape the future of choral art.

The road to the crown is deliberately demanding. Choirs first compete in their category - secular, sacred, folk, spiritual and gospel, children's or senior choirs - where an international jury of seven evaluates every performance on a 100-point scale across intonation, sound quality, fidelity to the score and artistic impression. First place in Categories A, B, C, D and E with at least 85.00 points qualifies automatically for the Grand Prix; second place with at least 85.00 points may be admitted at the sole discretion of the international jury.

The Grand Prix itself is a test of identity: exactly two pieces, performed a cappella, with a total singing time of no more than seven minutes. No instruments, no effects, no hiding. In seven minutes, a choir must reveal who it truly is.

Yet participation in London is about far more than the final result. Across four days, choirs sing in three of the capital's most storied spaces - the Royal College of Music, the Britten Theatre and The Actors' Church in Covent Garden. They meet the jury face to face at the round-table, receive personal feedback on their performances, take part in workshops and masterclasses, and hear ensembles from every corner of the world.

Every choir that takes the stage leaves with something: medals and diplomas for all participants, the jury's written comments, new friendships and the memory of singing under the London sky. But only one conductor each year hears the words that every competitor dreams of - and feels the weight of the London Choral Crown.

Applications for the London Choral Competition 2027 are now open. Places in each category are limited and reviewed in the order they arrive. Sing for the Crown!