Press Releases
Hard Gospel Hymn-writing competition
The Hard Gospel Project are offering a €1000.00 (£672.00) grand prize for the winner of their hymn-writing competition, which is encouraging talented musicians to submit compositions based on the theme of ‘loving God and loving your neighbour’.
The deadline for the competition is Saturday 1st December and the winner will be announced on January 1st 2008. The winning entry will also be premiered by the Discovery Gospel Choir at the Hard Gospel Immigration Conference on Saturday 19th January 2008, in the Emmaus Retreat Centre, Dublin.
The three judges for the Hard Gospel Hymn-writing competition are Melanie Clark Pullen, Bishop Edward Darling and Lorna Palmer.
Melanie Clark Pullen has been an actor for the last ten years in Ireland and the UK. Her TV acting credits include The Clinic (RTE), The Big Bow Wow (RTE) and Eastenders (BBC). Melanie is also a Local Preacher in training in the Methodist church.
Bishop Edward Darling was General Editor of the Church Hymnal, (fifth edition) in 2000 and was elected Executive President of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland at its annual conference in July 2007.
Lorna Palmer is a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London and has directed choirs in Lisburn Cathedral, Belfast Bible College, Wesley College Dublin and the Church of Ireland Theological College.
The winning hymn will also be published and circulated for use in Church of Ireland churches throughout the country. Any entry must therefore be suitable to be performed in a variety of settings and on a variety of instruments.
Entry forms have been sent to every parish, but are also available at http://www.hardgospel.net/ (see under the section ‘News’) and are also attached with this email. Final entries must be sent to ‘The Hard Gospel Project, Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6’.
For more information check the ‘rules and regulations’ on the entry form or contact Philip McKinley or 00353 (0)871325531.