Agriculture and Farmers have been central to mankind’s existence since the beginning of time.

County Hall Arts (CHA) invites composers from around the world to participate in a unique classical music competition celebrating this foundation of life. Creators are invited to submit quartet composition proposals with the opportunity to share in a prize pool of €90,000.

From the first sunrise over the fields to the quiet dignity of hard-earned harvests, farming is more than labour - it is a sacred partnership with the land. This concours wishes to explore the concept of AgriCulture not just as sustenance, but as a cultural and spiritual act, rooted in tradition, sacrifice, and creation.

We are seeking musical works which honour this deep connection between humanity, nature, and divine creation - the changing seasons, the toil of a day ploughing the meadow, the reaping of a prosperous crop, the nobility, resilience and spiritual essence of the farmer.

The first stage of the competition invites composers to submit a short "pitch document" (up to 3 pages, this may be text and/or image-based) setting out their vision for this classical quartet composition. In addition, entrants should please supply an audio file or link to an earlier composition, a previous sample score composed for a quartet or small ensemble (ideally corresponding to the aforementioned audio file) and a biography/CV.

The concours is open for these 'first stage' submissions from 18th July through to 15th December 2025.

A selection of entrants will be long-listed and invited to create their quartet composition for a second stage of adjudication. The work then commissioned should be for flute quartet (flute, violin, viola and cello) - with a separate version to also be created for piano quartet. It’s anticipated that the winning and second place pieces will ultimately be performed by the Kyoto Quartet and County Hall Quartet.

The winner will be awarded a prize of €40,000. Up to five other finalists will each receive €10,000.

Composers should allow their music to echo the rhythms of the earth, the strength of human hands, and the voice of divinity in nature - as Robert Schumann created 'The Happy Farmer', Edvard Grieg 'Shepherd’s Boy'.

Let the soil speak through your symphony. Let your music praise the hands that feed the world. We were Farmers, we are still Farmers.

Compose. Cultivate. Celebrate.

“When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.” — Daniel Webster

Before you fill in the Submission Form, please read the Terms and Conditions.