Alice Gross Memorial Song Writing Award

Alice Gross was a promising musician and song writer who attended Brentside Academy High and tragically lost her life in September 2014. She has been described as a loving, loyal and quirky girl, with a lively sense of comedy and a compassionate nature. She was a keen musician, who wrote and sang her own songs, played the violin and piano and was learning the guitar. Alice hoped, one day, to have a career in music.

This award is to honour her memory and the love she had in music making and in song writing in particular. It will be an opportunity for other young people to share their music, and gain recognition and support in reaching a musical goal. The winner will receive a day in a professional recording studio to record the winning song. Click here for footage of the previous winner, Elise McQueen with her song Mortal Souls.

Full details of the award can be found below, though if you have any further questions or would like more information, please e-mail Ross Kenning.

Apply Now

Apply now by submitting the following to Ross Kenning via email!

  • NAME / SCHOOL / YEAR

  • SONG RECORDING

  • LYRICS SHEET

  • SUPPORTING STATEMENT

  • Be sure to apply before applications CLOSE on 10/04/2023!

Key Information

Name of Award: Alice Gross Song Memorial Song Writing Award
Funded by: Ealing Music Service (with support from British Grove Studios)
Administered by: Ealing Music Service
Submission Details: Digital entries only (mp3 audio files)
Up to 250-word commentary & song lyrics (pdf file)
Applications Open: 1 February 2023
Applications Close: 10 April 2023
Recording Studio Date: 1 June 2023

  • Applicants must: be a resident of or educated at a school in the London Borough of Ealing
  • Applicants must: be in year 10, 11 or 12 at time of application.

  • The winner of the award will be awarded a day of recording time at a professional recording studio (British Grove Studios) to produce a studio mastered version of the winning song.

  • The prize must be redeemed within 12 months of the award being given and must be on a date agreed by the awardee and the studio.

  • The winning song may be played/performed and at a public event in Ealing (TBC).

  • Applicants may enter themselves but must have their entry signed by their parent or guardian and a member of staff from their school.
  • Applicants should submit a recorded performance of their song consisting of music and song lyrics as a digital file (MP3 or equivalent). CD’s will NOT be accepted or manuscript.
  • The song must be no more than 5 minutes in length. If a song is submitted which is longer than this it will not be accepted.
  • To accompany the recording applicants should write no more than 250 word commentary on the process, influences and ideas behind the composition.
  • Song lyrics must be submitted either as a PDF or on a manuscript score. If in a language other than English, an English translation must be submitted also.
  • Shortlisted applicants will have their song available for the public to listen to on the Ealing Music Service website in the weeks leading up to the final winner is announced.
  • Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.
  • Please read all of the terms & conditions before entering for this award.
  • Songs should consist of the pupil’s own work and should not infringe any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties. As an exception, a song that contains elements of another work may be accepted provided this is made clear on entry and, in such cases, the unoriginal part will not be judged only the original.

  • The compositions must be a song with lyrics and not purely instrumental.

  • Students must carefully check audio files and links before entry. It is the student’s responsibility to check that submitted recordings and files play correctly before submitting their work. If faulty, non-playing recordings are submitted, the entry will be marked void by the judges.

  • Songs are judged based on composition. The quality of performance, vocals and production is not a consideration.

  • Songs will be scored out of 10 on: Originality, Creativity, Lyrics, Melody & Arrangement

  • Shortlisting and of applications will be done by: Ealing Music Service, the winner will be decided by a panel of judges.

  • All prizes are non-transferable.

  • Responsibility for the fulfilment of the prize resides with the winner and the named sponsors of the award and must be taken within the time frame specified.

  • Entry in into the competition constitutes permission for Ealing Music Service to use winners name, photo, recordings, videos and voices for promotional and publicity purposes on Ealing Music Service Website and other third party websites and in publicity and promotional materials and press releases.

  • Entrants retain full song ownership rights and all copyrights to all songs submitted. Entering the competition does not in any way affect the writers’ ownership of their songs.

  • Songs may have multiple co-writers up a maximum of 2 and each name must be submitted.

  • The judge’s decisions are final and binding and students agree by entering the contest to accept and abide by the judges decisions.