The 2026 Award has been awarded to Cooper Finn for his setting of Christina Rosseti's "Remember me". Cooper is 22, a Law student from Illinois, USA. On receiving the news of the award he said "This is AMAZING NEWS! Thank you, and the assessment panel for this absolute honor!

"Remember Me" will be performed by Southwell Choral Society in their concert in Southwell Minster on 21 November 2026. Marcus Farnsworth will be the conductor and Peter Siepmann the pianist.

Cooper Finn — Artist Bio

Cooper Finn is an award-winning arranger and composer whose work embraces modern choral and a-capella styles, using those influences to emphasize storytelling and emotional connection.With more than eight years of experience in composition and arranging, he has written for vocal ensembles, choirs, and performers across a wide range of styles. Cooper is a three-time recipient of the ICCA “Outstanding Arrangement" Award, recognizing his work on nationally competitive collegiate a cappella sets. His original songwriting has also received national recognition through the School of Rock AllStars program, where his composition was selected from a pool of more than 150,000 students nationwide. His music has been performed at venues including The Town Hall in New York City and the House of Blues in Dallas. A graduate of Lehigh University, Cooper continues to create custom arrangements and original works designed to highlight the unique strengths of each ensemble while creating memorable experiences for performers and audiences alike.