Cone of Composition Competition

About

What began as a friendly rivalry between two composition students, the Cone of Composition Competition has turned into an annual tradition at UCT’s South African College of Music (SACM).

The Cone of Composition was the brainchild of alumni Joe Bolton and Dan Miller. Determined to establish who the better composer was, the pair hosted the first student-run SACM composition competition in 2010. In addition to bragging rights, the winner would be awarded a large pine cone that Miller had stumbled across during a walk in Newlands Forest.

2025 Competition details

Please submit your compositions by Friday 13 June 2025 to Aidan Reynolds in full score.

Parts to be ready by Friday 27 June 2025.

The winner will be announced at the lunch hour concert on Thursday 21 August 2025, 1-2pm, Chisholm Recital Room, C7.

Entrance requirements 

Composers who wish to compete in this annual and popular contest are invited to enter a new, original work. The instrumentation is chosen by the competition organiser who is always the previous year’s student winner.

Please note the following competition guidelines:

• Consideration should be taken to make the works playable by students;
• Please submit clear and legibly notated works for this ensemble;
• No additional instruments, electronic instruments or samples may be submitted;
• Pieces can be in any style;
• Compositions should be between 3 to 5 minutes long;
• Compositions will be adjudicated by a professional panel.