Royal Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition

AWARDS

• Gold Medal and First Prize £15,000 (£10,000+£5,000 professional development scholarship)
• ROSL Solo Keyboard Prize £5,000
• ROSL Solo Strings Prize £5,000
• ROSL Singers Prize £5,000
• ROSL Solo Wind, Brass and Percussion Prize £5,000
• Award for collaborative pianists £5,000
• ROSL String Ensembles Prize £10,000
• ROSL Mixed Ensembles Prize £10,000
• ROSL Overseas Award £3,000

In addition to the prizes listed above, ROSL has a fund of up to £18,000 for awards for specific categories including non-UK Commonwealth musicians, particular instruments and for young musicians of exceptional promise.
Additional prizes that are regularly awarded include the Philip Jones Brass Prize, the Tait Memorial Trust Prize and the Yorke Trust Double Bass Prize. 

For String and Keyboard ensembles, the Richmond Concert Society String Ensemble Award is a £2,000 prize that will be awarded to a finalist ensemble who does not win the main £10,000 prize.

ROSL is partnered with Making Music to offer our section final winners the chance to join the Philip & Dorothy Green Young Artist Award (PDGYA) for one year. Any eligible winner of the main Solo Prizes, Ensemble category winners and the Overseas award winner will be featured in the new Recommended Artist Guide and have the opportunity to be booked for performances with Making Music’s member promoters.

Gold Medal Scholarship
Following a generous legacy received in memory of Mani Bhumgara, the Gold Medal winner receives a £5,000 scholarship, administered and mentored by ROSL ARTS, to be spent flexibly on projects which will help support and build their career.

Overseas Awards
The Overseas Awards showcase non-UK Commonwealth musicians from all stages of the competition (including the first stage video round) who have shown exceptional promise. Musicians will be invited to perform at this special evening on the 25^th March 2025, where various prizes are available, including the ROSL Overseas Award.

Deadline for applications: Monday 6 January 2025 at 5pm.

The 2025 competition is open to citizens of the UK, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth Countries, the U.S.A, all EU and EEA countries, Switzerland, Japan and South Korea for instrumentalists and singers between the ages of 18 and 30 as at 18 July 2025. You must have citizenship at the time of application.

For ensembles, at least half the members of a group must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and the average age of the group must also be 30 or under.

Collaborative pianists
Duo pianists are not provided for the semi-final and final rounds, but can be recommended. Collaborative piano partners may be of any age or nationality; however only those who are from the UK, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth Countries, the U.S.A, all EU and EEA countries, Switzerland, Japan and South Korea between the ages of 18 and 30 as at 18 July 2025 will be considered for the Collaborative Piano prize. Entry for this award is via the application of a solo prize candidate.

Competition Rules
The ROSL Artistic Director’s decision to accept or refuse any entry is final. The decision of the Adjudicating Panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The Adjudicators reserve the right to withhold any prize should the required standard not be attained.

Candidates must have relevant nationality at the time of entering the competition.

Solo entries are for one instrument only, but repertoire can include doubling instruments from the same family (for example a clarinettist could include works for bass or e flat clarinet, or an oboist could include a work for cor anglais).

Period instruments: where possible we will arrange hire of a harpsichord to accompany solo period instruments if your entire programme requires it. Due to stage size restrictions we are unable to accommodate fortepiano.

Once a competitor has won a prize in the Annual Music Competition, they are not eligible for that prize in a subsequent year. Previous winners of the main solo awards are not eligible to enter the Annual Music Competition as soloists again.

The ROSL Artistic Director reserves the right to allow any stage of the Annual Music Competition to be recorded, broadcast or televised. Any resulting material from this remains the property of ROSL and cannot be repurposed elsewhere.

We will not communicate through third parties – each candidate must have their own direct email address and contact details.

Page turners are not provided at any stage of the competition.

Candidates must be available for all relevant audition dates, including the Overseas Awards evening on 25 March 2025 for non-UK Commonwealth competitors and the Gold Medal Final at Wigmore Hall on Friday 18 July 2025.

Once a candidate has been accepted by the Annual Music Competition, alteration to the submitted programme will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. We encourage you to consider your programming carefully at the application stage. 

Deadline for applications: Monday 6 January 2025 at 5pm.

Stage 1 preliminary video rounds
7-13 January

Wind, brass and percussion
Stage 2 Monday 10 February, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Stage 3 Tuesday 11 February, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Singers
Stage 2 Monday 17 February, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Stage 3 Tuesday 18 February, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Keyboard
Stage 2 Monday 24 February, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Stage 3 Tuesday 25 February, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Strings
Stage 2 Monday 3 March, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Stage 3 Tuesday 4 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Ensembles A (strings/keyboard)
Stage 2 Monday 10 March, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Stage 3 Tuesday 11 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Ensembles B (wind/mixed)
Stage 2 Monday 17 March, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Stage 3 Tuesday 18 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Overseas Awards
Tuesday 25 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Gold Medal Final
Friday 18 July 2025, 7pm

All auditions (including the Overseas Awards) take place in the Princess Alexandra Hall at Over-Seas House London, except for the Gold Medal Final, which takes place at Wigmore Hall, London.

For technical questions, please contact roslarts@rosl.org.uk and one of our team will assist you as quickly as possible.

Guidelines

Deadline: Monday 6 January 2025 at 5pm.

Candidates should present a varied, imaginative and well-balanced programme predominantly of Western classical music. Repertoire choice is free but plays an important part of the assessment of candidates at each stage of the competition; we want you to present works which you feel best represent you as an artist.

Arrangements of works originally written for other instruments are acceptable. All vocal works should be sung in their original language. We do not allow any prepared piano in the live rounds, this includes the touching of any strings or placing anything inside the piano.

APPLY HERE

Stage 1 Video Guidelines

• 12-15 minutes of free choice repertoire, which you feel represents you as an artist/ensemble.
• The video/s must have been filmed no earlier than 1st Jan 2024.
• Separate videos for each work being performed are acceptable
• The videos must be of high quality – they do not have to be professional but must have clear sound and vision. We will allow videos with more than one camera angle, but they must be unedited and clearly recorded in one take.
• All videos must be uploaded using the Jotform online application form.

If you are having difficulties making a video or need advice, please email us on roslarts@rosl.org.uk 

Soloists/Ensembles

• Stage 1 (Preliminary video auditions) 12-15 minutes free choice.
• Stage 2 (semi-finals) 20 minutes free choice programme, but works must differ from stage 1. Not open to the public.
• Stage 3 (Section finals) 20 minutes free choice. A mini-recital which may include one work presented in either of the earlier rounds. Open to the public.
• Stage 4 (Grand Final) 15 minutes free choice. The winners of the main solo awards (Keyboard, Strings, Wind/Percussion, Singers) compete for the Competition Gold Medal and First Prize.

All timings must be inclusive of breaks, tunings and adjustments.

Overseas Awards
Final, 20 minutes free choice. For outstanding non-UK Commonwealth competitors. Open to the public.

The timings given above are performance times and should include settling, tuning, rests between pieces etc.

Documents
The following documents should be uploaded as part of the application process.

1. A scan of a birth certificate or similar official document confirming the candidate’s date and place of birth (not necessary for Ensembles).
2. Curriculum vitae and a short biography (200 words maximum) suitable for printed concert programmes.
3. A photograph of yourself or your ensemble

Fees
Soloists £40, Ensembles £40 per group, payable by debit or credit card as part of the application process. These fees are non-refundable.

TIMETABLE AND LOCATION

Audition dates 2025

Stage 1 preliminary video rounds
9-12 January

Wind, brass and percussion
Stage 2 Monday 10 February, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Stage 3 Tuesday 11 February, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Overseas Awards
Tuesday 25 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm

Gold Medal Final 
Friday 18 July 2025, 7.30pm

All auditions (including the Overseas Awards) take place at Over-Seas House London, except for the Final Concert, which takes place at Wigmore Hall, London.

APPLY HERE

Guidelines

Deadline: Monday 6 January 2025 at 5pm.

Candidates should present a varied, imaginative and well-balanced programme predominantly of Western classical music. Repertoire choice is free but plays an important part of the assessment of candidates at each stage of the competition; we want you to present works which you feel best represent you as an artist.

Arrangements of works originally written for other instruments are acceptable. All vocal works should be sung in their original language. We do not allow any prepared piano in the live rounds, this includes the touching of any strings or placing anything inside the piano.

APPLY HERE

Stage 1 Video Guidelines

• 12-15 minutes of free choice repertoire, which you feel represents you as an artist/ensemble.
• The video/s must have been filmed no earlier than 1st Jan 2024.
• Separate videos for each work being performed are acceptable
• The videos must be of high quality – they do not have to be professional but must have clear sound and vision. We will allow videos with more than one camera angle, but they must be unedited and clearly recorded in one take.
• All videos must be uploaded using the Jotform online application form.

If you are having difficulties making a video or need advice, please email us on roslarts@rosl.org.uk 

Soloists/Ensembles

• Stage 1 (Preliminary video auditions) 12-15 minutes free choice.
• Stage 2 (semi-finals) 20 minutes free choice programme, but works must differ from stage 1. Not open to the public.
• Stage 3 (Section finals) 20 minutes free choice. A mini-recital which may include one work presented in either of the earlier rounds. Open to the public.
• Stage 4 (Grand Final) 15 minutes free choice. The winners of the main solo awards (Keyboard, Strings, Wind/Percussion, Singers) compete for the Competition Gold Medal and First Prize.

All timings must be inclusive of breaks, tunings and adjustments.

Overseas Awards
Final, 20 minutes free choice. For outstanding non-UK Commonwealth competitors. Open to the public.

The timings given above are performance times and should include settling, tuning, rests between pieces etc.

Documents
The following documents should be uploaded as part of the application process.

1. A scan of a birth certificate or similar official document confirming the candidate’s date and place of birth (not necessary for Ensembles).
2. Curriculum vitae and a short biography (200 words maximum) suitable for printed concert programmes.
3. A photograph of yourself or your ensemble

Fees
Soloists £40, Ensembles £40 per group, payable by debit or credit card as part of the application process. These fees are non-refundable.

TIMETABLE AND LOCATION

Audition dates 2025

Stage 1 preliminary video rounds
9-12 January

Singers
Stage 2 Monday 17 February, 10.00am – 5.00pm (not open to the public)
Stage 3 Tuesday 18 February, 7.00 – 9.00pm (open to the public)

Overseas Awards
Tuesday 25 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm (open to the public)

Gold Medal Final 
Friday 18 July 2025, 7.30pm (open to the public)

All auditions (including the Overseas Awards) take place at Over-Seas House London, except for the Final Concert, which takes place at Wigmore Hall, London.

APPLY HERE

Guidelines

Deadline: Monday 6 January 2025 at 5pm.

Candidates should present a varied, imaginative and well-balanced programme predominantly of Western classical music. Repertoire choice is free but plays an important part of the assessment of candidates at each stage of the competition; we want you to present works which you feel best represent you as an artist.

Arrangements of works originally written for other instruments are acceptable. All vocal works should be sung in their original language. We do not allow any prepared piano in the live rounds, this includes the touching of any strings or placing anything inside the piano.

APPLY HERE

Stage 1 Video Guidelines

• 12-15 minutes of free choice repertoire, which you feel represents you as an artist/ensemble.
• The video/s must have been filmed no earlier than 1st Jan 2024.
• Separate videos for each work being performed are acceptable
• The videos must be of high quality – they do not have to be professional but must have clear sound and vision. We will allow videos with more than one camera angle, but they must be unedited and clearly recorded in one take.
• All videos must be uploaded using the Jotform online application form.

If you are having difficulties making a video or need advice, please email us on roslarts@rosl.org.uk 

Soloists/Ensembles

• Stage 1 (Preliminary video auditions) 12-15 minutes free choice.
• Stage 2 (semi-finals) 20 minutes free choice programme, but works must differ from stage 1. Not open to the public.
• Stage 3 (Section finals) 20 minutes free choice. A mini-recital which may include one work presented in either of the earlier rounds. Open to the public.
• Stage 4 (Grand Final) 15 minutes free choice. The winners of the main solo awards (Keyboard, Strings, Wind/Percussion, Singers) compete for the Competition Gold Medal and First Prize.

All timings must be inclusive of breaks, tunings and adjustments.

Overseas Awards
Final, 20 minutes free choice. For outstanding non-UK Commonwealth competitors. Open to the public.

The timings given above are performance times and should include settling, tuning, rests between pieces etc.

Documents
The following documents should be uploaded as part of the application process.

1. A scan of a birth certificate or similar official document confirming the candidate’s date and place of birth (not necessary for Ensembles).
2. Curriculum vitae and a short biography (200 words maximum) suitable for printed concert programmes.
3. A photograph of yourself or your ensemble

Fees
Soloists £40, Ensembles £40 per group, payable by debit or credit card as part of the application process. These fees are non-refundable.

TIMETABLE AND LOCATION

Audition dates 2025

Stage 1 preliminary video rounds
9-12 January

Keyboard
Stage 2 Monday 24 February, 10.00am – 5.00pm (not open to the public)
Stage 3 Tuesday 25 February, 7.00 – 9.00pm (open to the public)

Overseas Awards
Tuesday 25 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm (open to the public)

Gold Medal Final 
Friday 18 July 2025, 7.30pm (open to the public)

All auditions (including the Overseas Awards) take place at Over-Seas House London, except for the Final Concert, which takes place at Wigmore Hall, London.

APPLY HERE

Guidelines

Deadline: Monday 6 January 2025 at 5pm.

Candidates should present a varied, imaginative and well-balanced programme predominantly of Western classical music. Repertoire choice is free but plays an important part of the assessment of candidates at each stage of the competition; we want you to present works which you feel best represent you as an artist.

Arrangements of works originally written for other instruments are acceptable. All vocal works should be sung in their original language. We do not allow any prepared piano in the live rounds, this includes the touching of any strings or placing anything inside the piano.

APPLY HERE

Stage 1 Video Guidelines

• 12-15 minutes of free choice repertoire, which you feel represents you as an artist/ensemble.
• The video/s must have been filmed no earlier than 1st Jan 2024.
• Separate videos for each work being performed are acceptable
• The videos must be of high quality – they do not have to be professional but must have clear sound and vision. We will allow videos with more than one camera angle, but they must be unedited and clearly recorded in one take.
• All videos must be uploaded using the Jotform online application form.

If you are having difficulties making a video or need advice, please email us on roslarts@rosl.org.uk 

Soloists/Ensembles

• Stage 1 (Preliminary video auditions) 12-15 minutes free choice.
• Stage 2 (semi-finals) 20 minutes free choice programme, but works must differ from stage 1. Not open to the public.
• Stage 3 (Section finals) 20 minutes free choice. A mini-recital which may include one work presented in either of the earlier rounds. Open to the public.
• Stage 4 (Grand Final) 15 minutes free choice. The winners of the main solo awards (Keyboard, Strings, Wind/Percussion, Singers) compete for the Competition Gold Medal and First Prize.

All timings must be inclusive of breaks, tunings and adjustments.

Overseas Awards
Final, 20 minutes free choice. For outstanding non-UK Commonwealth competitors. Open to the public.

The timings given above are performance times and should include settling, tuning, rests between pieces etc.

Documents
The following documents should be uploaded as part of the application process.

1. A scan of a birth certificate or similar official document confirming the candidate’s date and place of birth (not necessary for Ensembles).
2. Curriculum vitae and a short biography (200 words maximum) suitable for printed concert programmes.
3. A photograph of yourself or your ensemble

Fees
Soloists £40, Ensembles £40 per group, payable by debit or credit card as part of the application process. These fees are non-refundable.

TIMETABLE AND LOCATION

Audition dates 2025

Stage 1 preliminary video rounds
9-12 January

Strings
Stage 2 Monday 3 March, 10.00am – 5.00pm (not open to the public)
Stage 3 Tuesday 4 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm (open to the public)

Overseas Awards
Tuesday 25 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm (open to the public)

Gold Medal Final 
Friday 18 July 2025, 7.30pm (open to the public)

All auditions (including the Overseas Awards) take place at Over-Seas House London, except for the Final Concert, which takes place at Wigmore Hall, London.

APPLY HERE

Guidelines

Deadline: Monday 6 January 2025 at 5pm.

Ensembles need just a minimum of ONE member who is a citizen of a Commonwealth, or former Commonwealth Country, the USA, EU, EEA countries, Switzerland, Japan or South Korea.  

Candidates should present a varied, imaginative and well-balanced programme predominantly of Western classical music.

The maximum ensemble size is 8 performers and groups must be unconducted. Repertoire choice is free, but choice of repertoire plays an important part of the assessment of candidates at each stage of the competition; we want you to present works which you feel best represent you as an ensemble.

Arrangements of works originally written for other instruments are acceptable. All vocal works should be sung in their original language. We do not allow any prepared piano in the live rounds, this includes the touching of any strings or placing anything inside the piano.

APPLY HERE

Stage 1 Video Guidelines

• 12-15 minutes of free choice repertoire, which you feel represents you as an ensemble.
• The video/s must have been filmed no earlier than 1st Jan 2024.
• Separate videos for each work being performed are acceptable
• The videos must be of high quality – they do not have to be professional but must have clear sound and vision. We will allow videos with more than one camera angle, but they must be unedited and clearly recorded in one take.
• All videos must be uploaded using the Jotform online application form.

If you are having difficulties making a video or need advice, please email us on roslarts@rosl.org.uk 

Ensembles

• Stage 1 (Preliminary video auditions) 12-15 minutes free choice.
• Stage 2 (semi-finals) 20 minutes free choice programme, but works must differ from stage 1. Not open to the public.
• Stage 3 (Section finals) 20 minutes free choice. A mini-recital which may include one work presented in either of the earlier rounds. Open to the public.
•  The winners of the Ensemble Awards do not compete for the Gold Medal and First Prize but are invited to perform at Wigmore Hall in the Gold Medal concert while the jury deliberates. Open to the public.

All performance timings must be inclusive of breaks, tunings and adjustments.

Documents
The following documents should be uploaded as part of the application process.

1. A scan of a birth certificate or similar official document confirming the candidate’s date and place of birth for one of the eligible members of your ensemble.
2. Curriculum vitae and a short biography (200 words maximum) suitable for printed concert programmes.
3. A photograph of your ensemble

Fees
Ensembles £40 per group, payable by debit or credit card as part of the application process. These fees are non-refundable.

TIMETABLE AND LOCATION

Audition dates 2025

Stage 1 preliminary video rounds
9-12 January

Ensemble A: String and Keyboard Ensembles
Stage 2 Monday 10 March, 10.00am – 5.00pm (not open to the public)
Stage 3 Tuesday 11 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm (open to the public)

Gold Medal Final 
Friday 18 July 2025, 7.30pm (open to the public)

All auditions (including the Overseas Awards) take place at Over-Seas House London, except for the Final Concert, which takes place at Wigmore Hall, London.

APPLY HERE

Guidelines

Deadline: Monday 6 January 2025 at 5pm.

Ensembles need just a minimum of ONE member who is a citizen of a Commonwealth, or former Commonwealth Country, the USA, EU, EEA countries, Switzerland, Japan or South Korea.  

Candidates should present a varied, imaginative and well-balanced programme predominantly of Western classical music.

The maximum ensemble size is 8 performers and groups must be unconducted. Repertoire choice is free, but choice of repertoire plays an important part of the assessment of candidates at each stage of the competition; we want you to present works which you feel best represent you as an ensemble.

Arrangements of works originally written for other instruments are acceptable. All vocal works should be sung in their original language. We do not allow any prepared piano in the live rounds, this includes the touching of any strings or placing anything inside the piano.

APPLY HERE

Stage 1 Video Guidelines

• 12-15 minutes of free choice repertoire, which you feel represents you as an ensemble.
• The video/s must have been filmed no earlier than 1st Jan 2024.
• Separate videos for each work being performed are acceptable
• The videos must be of high quality – they do not have to be professional but must have clear sound and vision. We will allow videos with more than one camera angle, but they must be unedited and clearly recorded in one take.
• All videos must be uploaded using the Jotform online application form.

If you are having difficulties making a video or need advice, please email us on roslarts@rosl.org.uk 

Ensembles

• Stage 1 (Preliminary video auditions) 12-15 minutes free choice.
• Stage 2 (semi-finals) 20 minutes free choice programme, but works must differ from stage 1. Not open to the public.
• Stage 3 (Section finals) 20 minutes free choice. A mini-recital which may include one work presented in either of the earlier rounds. Open to the public.
•  The winners of the Ensemble Awards do not compete for the Gold Medal and First Prize but are invited to perform at Wigmore Hall in the Gold Medal concert while the jury deliberates. Open to the public.

All performance timings must be inclusive of breaks, tunings and adjustments.

Documents
The following documents should be uploaded as part of the application process.

1. A scan of a birth certificate or similar official document confirming the candidate’s date and place of birth for one of the eligible members of your ensemble.
2. Curriculum vitae and a short biography (200 words maximum) suitable for printed concert programmes.
3. A photograph of your ensemble

Fees
Ensembles £40 per group, payable by debit or credit card as part of the application process. These fees are non-refundable.

TIMETABLE AND LOCATION

Audition dates 2025

Stage 1 preliminary video rounds
9-12 January

Ensemble B: Wind and Mixed Ensembles
Stage 2 Monday 17 March, 10.00am – 5.00pm (not open to the public)
Stage 3 Tuesday 18 March, 7.00 – 9.00pm (open to the public)

Gold Medal Final 
Friday 18 July 2025, 7.30pm (open to the public)

All auditions (including the Overseas Awards) take place at Over-Seas House London, except for the Final Concert, which takes place at Wigmore Hall, London.

APPLY HERE

We only collect the information that is necessary to carry out normal business operations. We keep several categories of personal data on applicants of our competitions in order to carry out effective and efficient processes. We keep this data in applicant files relating to each programme and we also hold the data within our computer systems.

The types of information we hold may include:

• Personal details such as title, pronoun, name, postal address, contact telephone number(s), email address;
• name and contact details of your next of kin;
• Photographs, audio and/or video footage
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Access, health or dietary requirements
• information gathered via the application process such as that entered into a CV or included in a CV cover letter
• details on your career and education history
• Passport information or birth certificate
• Any other information you provide to us by email, letter, telephone, social media, via our website or in person
• Anonymous information including demographic information you provide via surveys

Special categories of data

Some of the information that you give us, due to its nature, has more potential to cause harm if not handled correctly. “Special category data” is specific personal data that is often sensitive in nature and must be treated with extra care. The sensitive personal data we collect and hold about you may include:

• Disability and long-term health conditions
• sexual orientation
• ethnicity
• religion

We carry out processing activities using special category data:

1. for the purposes of equal opportunities monitoring
2. to determine reasonable adjustments

Most commonly, we will process special categories of data when the following applies:

1. you have given explicit consent to the processing
2. we must process the data in order to carry out our legal obligations
3. we must process data for reasons of substantial public interest
4. you have already made the data public.

We sometimes request sensitive personal data in our applicant and participant surveys, in order to assist us with our diversity monitoring, which we are required to report on as part of our funding. This data is not obligatory to provide, is analysed anonymously, and not linked to individual data subject records.