After weeks of composing, arranging, judging, and deliberation, we’re delighted to announce the winners of the Tunescribers Arranging Competition 2026.
This year’s competition challenged arrangers to create original works based on the traditional melody Four Loom Weaver, with three separate categories:
- • Piano
- • Ensemble
- • Choral
Each category included its own creative limitation, encouraging entrants to think beyond conventional arranging approaches and explore new possibilities.
First of all, thank you to everyone who entered. We received submissions from around the world and were delighted by the creativity, musicianship, and individuality on display. We’d also like to thank our judging panel for their time, expertise, and thoughtful feedback.
Piano Category
🏆 1st Place – Brian McCarthy
Prize: $250 cash + Graphical MIDI Tools Gold Pass
Judge’s comment:
“This piece is incredibly well crafted, creative and fun to listen to… the flirtation with ragtime and stride piano while still landing in a classical style was particularly effective.”
Download the winning arrangement (free until 29 June 2026):
🥈 2nd Place – Dominic Baldwin
Prize: Transcribe! License + $100 Tunescribers Credit
🥉 3rd Place – Paul McCurdy
Instagram: @unclepeege
YouTube: @PaulGMcCurdyMusic
Prize: $50 Tunescribers Credit
Ensemble Category
🏆 1st Place – Sam Fettig
Instagram: @samfettigmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fettigs/
YouTube: @samfettig
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-fettig-715b1959/
Prize: $250 cash + NotePerformer License
Judge’s comment:
“I really loved this orchestration… the composer definitely knew how to write for each instrument, but also how to blend them all.”
Download the winning arrangement (free until 29 June 2026):
🥈 2nd Place – Rani Kumar
Instagram: @ra.ra.rani
Prize: Transcribe! License + $100 Tunescribers Credit
🥉 3rd Place – Datu Begley
Instagram: @datubegley
Prize: $50 Tunescribers Credit
Choral Category
🏆 1st Place – David Perkins
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.perkins.9440
Instagram: @david_perkins_music
TikTok: @davidperkins677
Prize: $250 cash + Cantai Lifetime License
Judge’s comment:
“This is a very professionally-done piece of choral music… I enjoyed the variety of harmonies, especially the harmonic surprises that appeared throughout.”
Download the winning arrangement (free until 29 June 2026):
🥈 2nd Place – Alexander Scaife-McGee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexmcgeeMD
Prize: Transcribe! License + $100 Tunescribers Credit
🥉 No Third Prize Awarded
The judges elected not to award a third-place prize in the Choral category this year.
Download the Winning Arrangements
All winning arrangements are available to download free of charge until 29 June 2026.
After that date, arrangements will be available for purchase for $9.95 each through the Tunescribers catalogue.
We encourage you to study the scores, listen to the recordings, and celebrate the creativity of this year’s winners.
Whether you placed this year, entered for the first time, or simply followed along from the sidelines, thank you for being part of the community.
Congratulations once again to all of our winners, and thank you to everyone who helped make the Tunescribers Arranging Competition 2026 possible.
