Next year marks 100 years of Naval aviation and, as part of the celebrations for the Royal Navy's airborne achievements since 1909, a competition has been launched to find the next John Williams or John Barry.

Open

Open to anyone of any age, there will be a prize of £2,000 for the winning symphonic wind band composition and it will be performed and recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall by the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines during the prestigious Mountbatten Festival of Music in February 2009.

This is going to be a unique opportunity for someone to make their musical debut on the world stage as the Royal Marines Band Service will perform and record the compositionWarrant Officer Ian Davies, MBE

To enter

To enter, applicants can download the film footage at www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk Applications are to be submitted by 31 August 2008, with a hard copy score and full set of symphonic wind band parts to be received by 30 November 2008.

Wide demand

"Symphonic windbands – essentially a band without strings – are in wide demand to play film and stage music. So this competition will be a dream come true for would-be composers", Warrant Officer Ian Davies, MBE, Royal Marines Band Service, and one of the team who created the competition told 4BR.

Missions

"The film portrayal of real missions by the Royal Navy's most exciting aircraft really catches the imagination. We are looking for an original soundtrack that will match the stunning footage. This is going to be a unique opportunity for someone to make their musical debut on the world stage as the Royal Marines Band Service will perform and record the composition."

For information about the Royal Navy visit royalnavy.mod.uk

Competition rules:

The competition is open to all musicians throughout the United Kingdom.

Compositions must be:

. original
. written for a full Symphonic Wind Band
. 8 minutes in length to play alongside the film footage
. Application submission date: 31 August 2008.
. Composition submission date: 30 November 2008.
. The Mountbatten Festival of Music 2009 recording will be on sale to the general public and therefore The Royal Marines Band Service reserve the right to perform and record the winning composition.
. Film footage is crown copyright and must not be reproduced in any form.
. The Judges' decision is final.
. If no composition is deemed suitable, the prize will not be awarded.
The winning composer will be notified by letter on completion of the competition.
. Unsuccessful composers will also be informed.