OpusHER
Empowering emerging female composers
EMPOWER: Women Changing Music are delighted to launch the second year of the OpusHER Award, created to spotlight, celebrate and support emerging female composers, and to expand the contemporary repertoire for wind instruments, in partnership with ABRSM.
Launched in 2024, this award offers a unique opportunity for female composers aged 18 and above to create a brand-new work for the EMPOWER 2026 tour, celebrating Women’s History Month.
Applications for 2025 - 2026 now open
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Award of £750
Premiere and performance of the piece at each EMPOWER 2026 event (London, Dublin, Manchester, Cardiff & Glasgow)
1:1 Mentorship and input from a team of esteemed female composers throughout the process of composing the piece
Publication of the winning piece here, an opportunity provided by the support of leading contemporary flautist Carla Rees.
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Compose a new work for flute, oboe, violin, viola & cello of up to 10 minutes in length
Please note, you are not required to compose your piece as part of the application
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Complete the application form, highlighting your compositional ambitions, reasons to be considered, and to propose your ideas for the piece.
Applications open on Friday 19 September 2025 and close at 11:59 PM on Sunday 19 October 2025. Late entries will not be considered.
Applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted the following week (w/b 20 October 2025).
Eligibility Criteria:
This competition is open to:
Composers who identify as women (we welcome applications from cis and trans women, as well as non-binary people who wish to apply)
Applicants aged 18 and over
Residents of the UK or Ireland
To be eligible, you must also confirm that:
You can attend at least one EMPOWER 2026 event in person (6, 8, 20, 25, or 26 March)
Your proposed piece has not been previously performed
All information you provide in your application is accurate
If you have any questions or experience any issues with your submission please email team@empowerwcm.com
Inaugural OpusHER Winner:
Molly Frances Arnuk
With almost 40 applications entered into the inaugural OpusHER competition, the winner of the award was Molly Frances Arnuk! We were immediately captivated by Molly’s passion for making contemporary music more accessible, and her attention to detail, but most importantly the fact she wanted joy to be central to the piece, which perfectly reflects her warm personality!
A note from Molly…
“Winning OpusHER is such an exciting opportunity. The support from knowledgeable mentors and instrumentalists will guide me to produce music that I am proud to share. Having my piece performed in the EMPOWER events alongside works by inspiring women is a big step in my emerging career as a composer, allowing my voice to reach wider audiences and forge important connections.”
We are so excited for our first collaboration and can’t wait to share this journey with you all!
Gratefully supported by nkoda