Age Categories

Category A: up to 8 years
Category B: 9–10 years
Category C: 11–12 years
Category D: 13–15 years
Category E: 16–21 years

*Age categories may be adjusted depending on the number of entries. The Organisers reserve the right to combine adjacent age groups if entries in any single category are fewer than 6, or to introduce a preliminary video selection if entries exceed 10 per category.

Repertoire Requirements
Each participant must prepare two contrasting pieces:

Compulsory Piece

Piano

• Categories A - C: one short work by Helen Hopekirk (including simplified arrangements/adaptations) or a piece based on a Scottish folk melody.
• Categories D & E: one original work by Helen Hopekirk, chosen from her piano repertoire.

Organ

• Categories A - C: one short work based on a Scottish folk melody (participants may choose suitable repertoire/arrangements).
• Categories D & E: either an arrangement of a work by Helen Hopekirk or a piece based on a Scottish folk melody.

Free Choice Piece
A contrasting work, chosen freely by the participant (any composer, style, or period).

Time limits:
Category A (up to 8 years) → up to 3 minutes
Category B (9–10 years) → up to 5 minutes
Category C (11–12 years) → up to 7 minutes
Category D (13–15 years) → up to 9 minutes
Category E (16–21 years) → up to 12 minutes

Performance Details:

• All piano performances must be from memory (except contemporary works and participants’ own compositions).
• Repertoire must be indicated in the application form and cannot be changed after submission.

Schedule:

• 22-24 May: Competition days

Deadline:

• Submissions must be received by 20 March 2026

Repertoire Resources
A selection of Helen Hopekirk’s piano works and Scottish folk-based pieces recommended for the competition is available to participants on this website *Repertoire Resources
These materials are intended as guidance and support. The final choice of repertoire remains with the participants, provided it meets the competition requirements.

Age Categories

This competition is open to young composers up to 21 years of age

• Category A: up to 10 years
• Category B: 11–15 years
• Category C: 16–21 years

Theme & Inspiration

All compositions must be inspired by traditional Scottish folk music, following the example of Helen Hopekirk, who loved to develop folk melodies into original compositions.
You may select one of the recommended themes below as the foundation for your work, or choose any other traditional Scottish melody. We encourage you to explore, develop, and interpret the chosen melody in your own unique musical style.

Recommended Themes:

• Land O’ The Leal
• Turn Ye to Me
• Eilidh Bhan
• Dance to Your Shadow
• Auld Lang Syne
• The Skye Boat Song
• Loch Lomond
• The Flowers of the Forest
• Annie Laurie
• My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
• The Bluebells of Scotland

Composers may quote the melody directly, use fragments, or create free variations inspired by the chosen theme.


Submission Requirements

• Compositions must be written for piano solo or organ solo.
• The submitted work must be an original composition and must not have been previously published or publicly performed.
• Your submission must include:
• A score (PDF format): Clearly notated and legible. The score must not contain any identifying information (name, address, etc.) to ensure anonymous judging.
• A recording (MP3 format):

1. A high-quality recording of the piece must be submitted.
2. This may be either a live performance or a MIDI rendering.
3. MIDI renderings must be exported as standard MP3 audio files from notation software (e.g. Sibelius, Finale, MuseScore, Dorico). The jury will listen to the audio files directly — project files (.sib, .musx, etc.) will not be accepted

• Applicants will be asked, in the event of winning, whether they wish to perform their own composition themselves at the Gala Concert or have it performed by an invited musician.

Deadline & Selection Process

• All submissions and recordings must be received by March 20, 2026.
• Finalists will be announced on April 10.

Finals & Performance

• Finalist compositions will be performed live on May 24, 2026, in Edinburgh.

Eligibility:

Open to participants worldwide who cannot attend the live competition in Edinburgh.

Age Categories

Category A: up to 8 years
Category B: 9–10 years
Category C: 11–12 years
Category D: 13–15 years
Category E: 16–21 years


Repertoire Requirements
Each participant must prepare two contrasting pieces:

Compulsory Piece

Piano

• Categories A - C: one short work by Helen Hopekirk (including simplified arrangements/adaptations) or a piece based on a Scottish folk melody.
• Categories D & E: one original work by Helen Hopekirk (choice from her piano repertoire).

Organ

• Categories A - C: one short work based on a Scottish folk melody (participants may choose suitable repertoire/arrangements).
• Categories D & E: either an arrangement of a work by Helen Hopekirk or a piece based on a Scottish folk melody.

Free Choice Piece
A contrasting work, chosen freely by the participant (any composer, style, or period).

Time limits:
Category A (up to 8 years) → up to 3 minutes
Category B (9–10 years) → up to 5 minutes
Category C (11–12 years) → up to 7 minutes
Category D (13–15 years) → up to 9 minutes
Category E (16–21 years) → up to 12 minutes

Performance Details:

• All piano performances must be from memory (except contemporary works and participants’ own compositions).

Submission Requirements

• Video Recording: participants must submit a single video file containing both pieces, uploaded to Google Drive. A shareable link must be provided in the application form (please ensure access without additional permission).
• All accepted recordings will be uploaded to the official YouTube channel of the Helen Hopekirk International Competition and made publicly available.

Audience Award

• An Audience Prize will be awarded to the participant whose video receives the highest number of “likes” on the official YouTube channel by 9 April 2026.
• The competition reserves the right to discount suspicious or automated voting activity.

Deadline:
Submissions must be received by 20 March 2026

Finalists:
Announced on 10 April 2026

Repertoire
A selection of Helen Hopekirk’s piano works and Scottish folk-based pieces recommended for the competition will be made available to participants on this page *Repertoire Resources
These materials are intended as guidance and support. The final choice of repertoire remains with the participants, provided it meets the competition requirements.