Honorarium to be awarded as top prize is $1500.

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Compositions should take full advantage of an advanced handbell ensemble who can play both technically and musically challenging repertoire.

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Compositions should be written for a minimum of 5 octaves of handbells and may include (but are not required to include) the following instruments which are either owned by Concert Bells of Fort Worth, or are easily borrowed by the ensemble:

 

C2, D2, E2, F2, G2-C9 Malmark Handbells

C2-C8 Malmark Choirchimes™

C4-C7 Whitechapel Handbells

G4-G6 Belleplates®

C5-C7 Silver Melody Bells™

F4-G6 Petit & Fritsen Handbells™

C4-G6 Tuned cowbells

C3-G6 Boomwhackers®

 

Composers should use the HMA/AGEHR publication Handbell & Handchime Notation and Difficulty Level System as a reference guide for all compositional notations. We invite composers from all musical backgrounds to submit entries but do require typical handbell conventions with proper notation for our instrument. For example, entries should adhere to the convention that C#5 and below is typically scored in the bass clef and Db5 and above is typically scored in the treble clef.

 

Compositions should be 3 to 6 minutes in playing time and should be HMA Level 3-5.

 

Compositions should not be winter holiday or Christmas themed.

 

Compositions may include scoring for auxiliary percussion, or a solo wind or string instrument. However, the compositional focus must remain on the handbell component and should not be scored such that the handbell ensemble is merely accompaniment for the solo instrument. Submissions with this additional instrumentation must include a separate score for the solo or percussion part.

 

Composers may submit as many manuscripts as they desire, but each submission must be sent separately.

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Both ringers and board members of Concert Bells of Fort Worth, and members of the Composition Contest Committee, as well as any of their family members, are ineligible to participate in the contest.

 

Winner(s) will be selected by the anonymous Composition Contest Committee, after input on the pieces has been collected from the ringers of Concert Bells of Fort Worth. Decisions of these bodies are final. Concert Bells of Fort Worth reserves the right to award honorable mentions, name multiple winners to share the winning prize, or name no winners at all.

 

Composers will retain copyright to their penned work. Concert Bells of Fort Worth retains the right to require a reasonable dedication line for the composition. Concert Bells of Fort Worth reserves the right to be the solely named dedicatee, or to name other dedicatees it so chooses, and to author the dedication line in accordance with any publisher guidelines, if necessary.

 

Composers should submit only non-published, non-copyrighted original works that are not in consideration with any publishing house, any other contest, nor currently distributed commercially in any way. Adherence to Copyright law is expected of all composers. Works that contain copyrighted material will forfeit any prize. Composers should submit only personally created works that are penned without the use of artificial intelligence applications, software, or tools. Composers certify that entries submitted comply with these rules and entries are their own original, wholly owned, intellectual property.

 

Concert Bells of Fort Worth retains rights to make and retain copies of all submitted entries.

 

Concert Bells of Fort Worth retains the right to record any of the submitted entries in video or audio format without any additional compensation to the Composers.

 

Concert Bells retains exclusive right of first performance to the winning submission of the contest, or any honorable mention entries.

 

If Concert Bells of Fort Worth chooses to perform any of the entries publicly, the Composer will receive an archival recording, not available for sale, of the first public performance of the piece. It is the intent of Concert Bells of Forth Worth to perform any winning entries or honorable mentions during our Spring 2027 concert season.

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Entries must include 3 files:

1. An identification document which includes:

• Composer’s legal name

• Composer’s pen name to be used, if any

• Composer’s address

• Composer’s preferred phone number

• Composer’s preferred email address

• Title of the Composition being submitted

2. A manuscript of the submission which:

• Contains no identifying information regarding the Composer

• Contains the title of the piece

• Contains the Handbell Used Chart(s) for all instruments

• If additional instrumentation is scored, the auxiliary percussion or solo instrument part must be submitted with the same considerations as aforementioned. A full score of all parts is preferred to be included as well, also with the same considerations as aforementioned

3. An audio file of the composition, preferably in mp3 format

 

Entries must be submitted in a single email submission, if possible, for consideration to the Composition Contest Chair, Josh Fitzgerald at contest@concertbells.com.

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Entries must be received by email on January 15, 2027, no later than 8 p.m. Central Standard Time to the Composition Contest Chair to be considered by the anonymous Composition Contest Committee.

 

Composers will be notified no later than March 1, 2027 if their piece has been selected for performance or awarded any honorarium. All composers agree that they may be publicly acknowledged for their submissions, after the contest is ended, either through concert programs, social media, website posts, or any other electronic means deemed appropriate by Concert Bells of Fort Worth.