Uniting Church in Australia

Songs that Unite is the inaugural national songwriting competition of the Uniting Church in Australia. This page contains all news and updates relating to the competition.

Ben Grace is feeling pretty excited right now after winning the Songs That Unite song competition.

“I feel honoured and excited and the news certainly added to our Easter fest!” he says.

His song Alpha and Omega, wowed the judging panel with its combination of music and lyrics.

Ben says that “It’s a pretty unusual song for me in that it just came from nowhere. My wife and I had recently returned from a few weeks overseas and I sat down at the piano and out poured the song and lyrics.

“It felt like it dropped from above,” said Ben.

The Rev. Dr Chris Walker, a member of the judging panel and National Consultant for Theology and Discipleship in the Assembly (involving the work of Doctrine, Worship, mission and evangelism) said the judges were impressed with the talent on display from entrants.

“As judges we were looking for more than one style of song to be selected as winners and we were very pleased to be able to select such a great range in different styles.

“We would describe the top 16 songs as really excellent songs – not just the top six which won prizes,” he said.

The judging panel came from different areas of the worship experience; Sharyn Robinson as a congregational worship leader, and Malcolm Gordon, a young Minster of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa – New Zealand and an accomplished song writer and musician himself.

All the judges were impressed that the Uniting Church has excellent songs writers in every state and the Assembly will continue to foster these bright talents in the aftermath of this competition – watch this space!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED 01.04.2010

The National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia is pleased to announce the successful entrants in the Songs That Unite song competition. We were thrilled with the number and high quality of entries. The judges commend the winners for their songs and all those who submitted entries. Please continue to check in on the Assembly website as more information becomes available regarding the winning entries.

First Prize

Ben Grace, Alpha and Omega

Highly Commended

Graeme Gardiner, More than mere survivors

John McRae, Let the silence speak

Jason Mann, Undone

Alison Campbell Rate, Hallelujah

Barry Dwyer, Guide me

IMPORTANT CHANGES IN ENTRY CONDITIONS 4.02.2010

Since issuing the conditions for entry in the Songs that Unite competition the Assembly has received feedback that suggests that the requirement that contest winners effectively sell their copyright to the Assembly has affected the willingness of some writers to enter the competition. This is not an outcome that the Assembly desires as the goal of the competition is to encourage awareness of the work of Christian musicians and to assist in making their work available.

In response to the feedback received the Assembly is removing the requirement that successful entrants must pass the copyright to the Assembly. All entries received prior to this change of condition will be subject to the revised terms of entry.

A reminder that entries close on Friday February 26 2010

Terence Corkin

Assembly General Secretary

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Songs that Unite is a songwriting competition of the Uniting Church in Australia that is seeking to encourage the development of Australian Christian music for use in congregations, by recognising high quality material and promoting it across the country.

The Assembly will enter into discussions with the successful entrants, and such other persons as the Assembly considers appropriate, about ways in which the Assembly can assist in the promotion and distribution of the writer’s work.

The focus of the competition is congregational (or other group) singing, rather than songs for individual performance.

CATEGORIES

Write a piece of contemporary music (both music and lyrics) for use in congregational singing in the following categories relating to aspects of a worship service:

1. Gathering the people
E.g. praise and adoration, confession.

2. Opening up to God
E.g. in the Scriptures, through the Holy Spirit.

3. Responding to God
E.g. discipleship, mission, service, witness, intercession, thanksgiving.

4. Sending
E.g. blessing.

PRIZES

• Up to $1100 total prize money
• $500 first prize
• Up to $150 x 4 highly commended prizes
• Promotion of winning songs across Australia
• High quality production made available for sale
• Sheet music made available for sale
• Opportunities for promotion of other work

JUDGING

• Judges will be appointed by the Assembly to an independent panel. The judges' decisions will be final and no correspondence entered into
• Songs will be assessed on ‘useability’ with consideration being given to the melody / beat as much as the words.
• The Assembly reserves the right not to award all the nominated prizes or to award more prizes if the quality of the entries warrants it.
• It is not guaranteed that a prize will be awarded to entrants in all categories.
• At the discretion of the judges discussion may take place with entrants in order to address minor language or theology issues.
• Invitations may be given to non award recipients to include their entries into any song collection arising from the competition.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

• The competition opens Wednesday 15 July 2009.
• The competition closes Friday 26 February 2010.
• Entries will not be accepted for review after this date.
• Maximum three entries per person.
• Entries must include both music and lyrics.
• An MP3 recording is desirable but not essential.
• Non English language entries are welcome, with the provision of a translation.
• Winners announced 31 March 2010.
• Winners notified via email and details put on the Assembly website.
• By entering the competition you agree that the song is your own, original, unpublished work and does not contain any copyright material. Entries will only be accepted from persons who provide a signed assurance in this respect and agree to indemnify the Assembly if it proves to be otherwise.
• · All successful entrants (winners) must agree to grant to the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia copyright to the words and music.
• Entries to be submitted with an Application form and Agreement to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with 'Songs that Unite Competition' in the subject header OR sent by mail to: Songs that Unite Competition, PO Box A2266, Sydney South 1235.

• Download the Application Form
• Download the Agreement