HMC Sixth Form Competitions 2014
‘Finding a Voice’: a celebration of the creative arts
Introduction
Following the inaugural HMC Sixth Form Poetry Competition in 2013, we are delighted this
year to launch competitions for Sixth Form pupils in HMC schools in the visual arts, choral
composition and poetry under the Conference theme of ‘Finding a Voice’.
The 2014 HMC Conference will be hosted at the Celtic Manor near Cardiff. We are
delighted that National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke, and acclaimed Welsh choral composer
Paul Mealor are confirmed as two of our three judges.
There will be an evening celebration of poetry, music and art attended by the winning
pupils prior to dinner on the final night of the Conference in Celtic Manor on Wednesday
1 October 2014. A selection of work will also be showcased on the HMC website and in the
HMC Insight magazine later this year.
Guidelines and Rules
Each competition is open to pupils who are currently in the Sixth Form in HMC Schools or
who will have joined the Sixth Form in September 2014 (i.e. 16-19 years old).
Only one entry per competition per pupil is allowed. Each entry should be accompanied by
a completed application form, showing the entrant’s name, age and school.
Entries should be made electronically to the relevant competition co-ordinator, as shown
below; it is also possible to send a hard copy entry to the choral composition. Entrants are
reminded that they should retain a copy of their work as we will be unable to return
individual entries.
The closing date for all entries is Monday 2 June 2014.
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A winner and runner-up will be selected in each competition, both of whom will be invited
to attend the presentation evening and dinner at the HMC Conference in Celtic Manor on
Wednesday 1 October 2014, with accommodation provided courtesy of HMC. A parent or
accompanying member of staff may also be invited. The winners' schools will be invited to
cover travelling costs only.
Winners' schools will be contacted by the end of the summer term to give sufficient time for
travelling arrangements to be made.
The judges' decision is final; we regret that we are unable to enter into any correspondence
regarding individual entries or the outcome of any of the competitions.
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Visual Arts
Co-ordinator:
E mail:
Simon Sharp, Head of Art, Bedales School
ssharp@Bedales.org.uk
There are two separate categories in Visual Arts:
(a) Lens-made – which may include still photos and short pieces of film
(b) Fine Art – which may include anything from conceptual installation to traditional
painting
There is no set theme for either Visual Arts category. Entrants should submit a digital image
of their work via the email address shown and are invited to provide up to 100 words of
commentary.
Selected work will be displayed in an on-line gallery on the HMC website.
A winner and a runner-up in each category will be invited to receive their awards at the
HMC Conference on Wednesday 1 October. A selection of winning entries may also be
published in the HMC Insight magazine in November.
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Choral Composition
Co-ordinator:
Address:
Email:
Stephen Williams, Director of Music, Uppingham School
Music Department, School Lane, Uppingham, LE15 9QT
composer@uppingham.co.uk
Young composers are invited to compose an anthem for unaccompanied SATB choir.
The themes are ‘celebration’ and ‘music’. The choice of text may reflect either or both of
these ideas. It should be suitable for a celebratory service, but not necessarily liturgical. The
composer is responsible for checking that the text is not in copyright.
We are looking for an original work that demonstrates both creativity and craft. It must be
choral (SATB, four parts only) and between 2 and 4 minutes in duration, without
accompaniment. A rehearsal keyboard reduction should however be provided. A short
description of the work and its background, suitable for programme notes, should also be
included.
All entries must be computer printed, or handwritten clearly in black ink. If you choose to
post your entry, please send two copies.
The judge is the composer Paul Mealor, whose Ubi Caritas was heard by millions at the
wedding of Catharine Middleton and Prince William. As well as being Professor of
Composition at the University of Aberdeen, Paul also has the distinction of having had a
Christmas number one single in 2011, Wherever You Are. He has been seen most recently as a
judge on the BBC2 programme The Choir: Sing while you work.
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Poetry
Co-ordinator:
Email:
Tom McCarthy, English Department, Portsmouth Grammar School
d.king@pgs.org.uk
A big, mild man is tenderly led
to his chair. He has never spoken.
His labourer’s hands on his knees, he rocks
gently to the rhythms of the poems.
I read to their presences, absences,
to the big, dumb labouring man as he rocks.
He is suddenly standing, silently,
huge and mild, but I feel afraid. Like slow
movement of spring water or the first bird
of the year in the breaking darkness,
the labourer’s voice recites ‘The Daffodils’.
The nurses are frozen, alert; the patients
seem to listen. He is hoarse but word-perfect.
Outside the daffodils are still as wax,
a thousand, ten thousand, their syllables
unspoken, their creams and yellows still.
Forty years ago, in a Valleys school,
the class recited poetry by rote.
Since the dumbness of misery fell
he has remembered there was a music
of speech and that once he had something to say.
When he’s done, before the applause, we observe
the flowers’ silence. A thrush sings
and the daffodils are flame.
From ‘Miracle on St David’s Day by Gillian Clark.
Poems are invited on the theme of 'Voices'.
Entries should be no longer than 40 lines.
The winner and a runner-up will be invited to read their poems at the presentation evening
in the company of the judge, Gillian Clarke, who will also give a short reading of her work
on Wednesday 1 October. A selection of entries may be published on the HMC website and
in the HMC Insight magazine in November.
Gillian Clarke, is one of our finest living poets and playwrights, her work studied by GCSE
and A Level students throughout Britain. She was appointed National Poet of Wales in
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2008. She is also President of Ty Newydd, the Writers’ Centre in North Wales she cofounded in 1990.
HMC Visual Arts Competition 2014
Entry Form
Name:
School:
Address:
Email:
Telephone:
Date of Birth:
Submission title:
Please email your entry to: Mr Simon Sharp, Head of Art, Bedales School at ssharp@Bedales.org.uk
Please remember to attach:
1. This entry form, completed and signed
2. Description and background (see below)
Declaration:
I have read and accept the rules of this competition and confirm that my entry conforms
with the eligibility criteria:
Signed: …………………………………………



Date: …………………………………
Entry materials are sent at the artist’s risk and may not be returned after the competition.
A short commentary (up to 100 words) on the work should also be provided.
By entering the competition the winner agrees:
a) to take part in publicity
b) that the winning entry may be exhibited at an HMC event
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HMC Choral Composition Competition 2014
Celebrating Music!
Entry Form
Name:
School:
Address:
Email:
Telephone:
Date of Birth:
Submission title:
Please post or email your entry, remembering to send copies, not originals, to: Mr Stephen Williams,
Music Department, School Lane, Uppingham, LE15 9QT, composer@uppingham.co.uk
Please remember to enclose or attach:
1. This entry form, completed and signed
2. Description and background (see below)
3. A rehearsal keyboard reduction
4. Two copies of your score (if sending it by post)
Declaration:
I have read and accept the rules of this competition and confirm that my entry conforms
with the eligibility criteria:
Signed: …………………………………………




Date: …………………………………
All entries must be computer printed, or handwritten clearly in black ink. Entry materials are sent at the composer’s risk
and may not be returned after the competition.
A short description of the work and its background, suitable for programme notes, should be provided, as well as a
rehearsal keyboard reduction.
The author is responsible for checking that the text is not in copyright.
By entering the competition the winner agrees:
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a) to take part in publicity
b) that the score of the winning entry may be performed at an HMC event
HMC Poetry Competition 2014
Voices
Entry Form
Name:
School:
Address:
Email:
Telephone:
Date of Birth:
Title:
Please email your entry to: Mr Tom McCarthy, English Department, The Portsmouth Grammar
School at d.king@pgs.org.uk
Please remember to attach:
1. This entry form, completed and signed
Declaration:
I have read and accept the rules of this competition and confirm that my entry conforms
with the eligibility criteria:
Signed: …………………………………………


Date: ………………………………………
Entry materials are sent at the author’s risk and may not be returned after the competition.
By entering the competition the winner agrees:
a) to take part in publicity
b) that the winning entry may be published and/or read at an HMC event
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