Kallaway created Choir of the Year in 1983 for Sainsbury's and it was an immediate success, striking a chord with communities across the UK. Quickly established as a major biennial cultural event, it was broadcast to millions on prime time BBC television and radio. Choir of the Year helped the Sainsbury's brand to engage in a more meaningful relationship with its consumers and involve its growing network of staff and stores in high profile local and national activities.

After a highly successful 16-year relationship with Sainsbury's, BBC Radio 3 took up sponsorship of the event, identifying with the competition's core values of quality and public access. Choir of the Year is now a much anticipated event in the choral community's calendar and is the competition choirs aspire to win because of its consistently high standards and integrity of judging.

"Choir of the Year has been the greatest single influence in raising the standard of this choir over the last 10 years."
Youth Choir

Kallaway manages all aspects of the sponsorship including creative and strategic development of the competition, working with top music experts to attract the widest spectrum of the choral community and showcase the very best amateur singing groups across all music styles. The strength of the competition's reputation, backed by dedicated marketing and PR activity, ensures that it attracts over 5,000 singers each year.

Choir of the Year is more than a competition and Kallaway creates outreach and education programmes that extend its rich resources to the wider community. In 2008 Kallaway created Taking the Stage which profiled Sing Up, the Government's National Singing Programme, and engaged hundreds of young singers in exciting performance and composition activities.

"It has shown them what they are capable of, but also the discipline needed to get to a high standard, just by watching all the choirs, especially those in the Grand Final."
Children's choir leader, Sing Up project

The most recent BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition culminated in December 2008 in a spectacular Grand Final held at the Royal Festival Hall on London's Southbank. Meticulously planned by Kallaway and broadcast on BBC FOUR and BBC Radio 3, the event saw a capacity audience of 2,500 people watching in awe as the country's top seven amateur choirs battled it out for the title of Choir of the Year. A special guest appearance by Only Men Aloud, winners of BBC ONE's Last Choir Standing added to the excitement.

"An unparalleled showcase for amateur music-making, encouraging the best UK singing talent to compete in a richly diverse and rigorous competition."
Howard Goodall, Singing Ambassador for the Government

"Competition development, print and entry pack production, entry and judging coordination, full event management including technical and floor management and risk assessment all fall within Kallaway's remit making this one of the most successful competitions of its kind."
Edward Blakeman, Editor, BBC Radio 3

The next Choir of the Year competition is in 2010. Click here for further details.
www.choiroftheyear.co.uk