* The winner will have their work performed on the world-famous Eisteddfod stage.
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has launched a major new commissioning opportunity for emerging Welsh composers.
This project is made possible thanks to significant support from the Arts Council of Wales, whose commitment has enabled the festival to expand its investment in new music and creative talent.
The new initiative, ‘Harmony Without Borders', invites early-career composers who were born in Wales, live in Wales, or study in Wales to apply for a £6,000 paid commission to create a six-minute bilingual work for choir and orchestra. Full details are provided in the attached brief.
The commissioned piece will receive its world premiere on Tuesday 7 July 2026 as part of the festival’s flagship opening concert, Uniting Nations: One World, a centrepiece of the 2026 artistic programme.
* Sir Karl Jenkins.
This special evening, featuring Sir Karl Jenkins conducting his powerful work One World, opens the 2026 festival with a message of unity, renewal and global collaboration, making it the perfect setting for this major new Welsh commission.
The work is expected to open with a bold orchestral fanfare, progressing into expressive choral writing in Welsh and English, with the option of incorporating additional languages. Composers wishing to collaborate with a lyricist may apply for financial support included within the commission.
Applicants will be shortlisted by the Artistic Director, with the final selection made by a panel of industry professionals. The commission is open to composers aged 18 and over, with preference given to those at the beginning of their professional journey.
John Gambles, Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “We are thrilled to launch Harmony Without Borders, a project that reflects our dedication to nurturing Welsh creative talent and celebrating the musical languages of our nation.
"None of this would be possible without the support of the Arts Council of Wales, whose commitment has enabled us to invest in new work on a scale worthy of our international stage. We look forward to welcoming a new composer into the Eisteddfod family and sharing their music with the world in July 2026.”
Dave Danford, Artistic Director, said: "This commission offers a fantastic opportunity for an emerging Welsh composer to create a work that will sit at the heart of one of our most significant concerts in 2026.
"We are looking for someone with imagination, ambition and a strong sense of musical identity. With choir, orchestra and a global audience at their disposal, the successful composer will have a powerful platform to showcase their voice. I cannot wait to see the ideas that come forward.”
Key Dates
• 19 December 2025 – Application deadline
• 9 January 2026 – Composer notified
• 6 March 2026 – First draft due
• 31 March 2026 – Final draft due
• 7 July 2026 – World premiere at Llangollen
Composers can apply by filling out the following form: https://forms.gle/1hua1LGPJZ7dzfEa6
* For more information please email composers@llangollen.net with the subject line “Harmony Without Borders”.
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