Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Music-Making Competition Returns for 2026 with £3,000 Prize Fund

By Lark Music

A collage of seven musicians, each holding their respective instruments, with colourful geometric backgrounds.

Share

At Lark Music, we understand the feeling of picking up an instrument and playing something you love. That’s why we’re delighted to once again partner with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) to support the BSO Music-Making Competition. Following the success of its first year, the competition is returning to encourage amateur musicians from across the UK to showcase their talent, share the music they love, and celebrate the joy of music-making.

A competition for every kind of musician

One of the things we love most about this competition is its inclusivity. Whether your musical home lies in classical, jazz, folk, rock, pop or a genre entirely your own – this is an opportunity to celebrate your musicianship.

Open to non-professional musicians aged 18 and over who are based in the UK, the competition features three age categories: 18–24, 25–39 and 40+. The winner of each category will receive a £1,000 cash prize, creating a total prize fund of £3,000, generously supported by Lark Music.

It’s not about perfection

While competitions often focus on technical excellence alone, the BSO Music-Making Competition takes a refreshingly different approach. Waiting to hear your music is a distinguished judging panel including conductor Enyi Okpara, violinist Tania Davis, guitarist Dagan Wilkin and comedian Helen Arney. They will, of course, be looking for strong instrumental playing, but they are equally interested in the personality, expression and connection behind the performance, and what makes your music uniquely yours.

How to enter

Entering couldn’t be easier. Simply submit a video of a live instrumental performance lasting up to three minutes. Your performance should be recorded in a single take and feature one entrant only, although accompaniment is welcome if required.

There’s no need for professional recording equipment – a phone, camera, and a passion for music are all you need to get involved. Whether you’ve been performing for decades or have only recently found the confidence to share your playing, we’d encourage you to take part.

Applications are now open, with entries closing on 3 September 2026.

Why we’re proud to support it

As specialists in musical instrument insurance, we spend every day talking to musicians. From beginners taking their first lessons to seasoned performers, music is an expression of passion and individuality. The BSO Music-Making Competition shines a spotlight on the countless musicians who practise after work, rehearse at weekends, perform with local groups and continue playing simply because music is an important part of who they are. Those musicians are the heartbeat of the UK’s musical community, and we’re proud to partner with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to help celebrate their creativity.

Share the word!

Help us inspire, celebrate and showcase the talent of amateur musicians across the UK!

We’re excited to share this opportunity with you and would love your support in helping spread the word to amateur musicians you know. Supporting the competition couldn’t be easier. Simply follow Lark Music and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on social media, and reshare our posts to help us reach more aspiring artists across the country.

Good luck to everyone entering. We can’t wait to hear the incredible talent this year’s competition uncovers.

For full details and entry information, visit the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra competition page.

For the
love of music

Useful Links

Lark Music is a trading name of Howden UK Brokers Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 307663. Registered in England and Wales under company registration number 02831010. Registered Office: One Creechurch Place, London, EC3A 5AF. Calls may be monitored and recorded for quality assurance purposes.