Anthem for Jersey
A competition has been launched to find an anthem which best celebrates a sense of Jersey’s identity.
Chief Minister, Senator Frank Walker, told the States that if the competition produces a suitable anthem, he will invite the States to recognize it formally as the Island’s anthem for future use at events like the Island and Commonwealth Games.
Although the national anthem is played at formal ceremonies to recognise Jersey’s constitutional status and its historic allegiance to the Crown, the number of occasions when there is a need to celebrate the Island’s own international identity in a more individual way is increasing.
“I hope that the opportunity for the Assembly to endorse an anthem to be used to reinforce our sense of identity will be widely welcomed”, Senator Walker told the States.
Popular songs, including ‘Ma Normandie’ and ‘Beautiful Jersey’, have been used in the past at sporting events but there has been some doubt as to what should actually be played as neither piece was written for this purpose. Now the opportunity exists to compose something new for the occasion, or equally to nominate an existing piece to be confirmed as Jersey’s anthem.
ESC Assistant Minister for Culture, Deputy Carolyn Labey, invited suggestions from the public as the first step in the formal selection of a local anthem which has the support of both the Bailiff and the Chief Minister.
“It could take the form of an existing piece like ‘Ma Normandie’ or ‘Beautiful Jersey’ but it could also be something written especially for the occasion. We want to try to find the anthem which will best celebrate the sense of our own identity and which will be recognised in future as our anthem,” she said.
The closing date for submissions is 31st July. A shortlist will then be compiled by a panel chaired by the Bailiff and comprising also the Chief Minister, the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, the Head of the Instrumental Music Service, the concert pianist Chris George and the Cultural Development Officer.
The final selection will be made in public in the Autumn with members of the audience having the opportunity to contribute to the judging process.
Entry Application Form (This will open in a new window)
Document Type: Adobe PDF
Size: 1,000Kb
Guidance Notes (This will open in a new window)
Document Type: Adobe PDF
Size: 15Kb
Note
There is no entry fee to taking part in the competition or nominating a work neither is there a cash prize but the composer of a new piece used as an anthem will have the work published on the States website with his biographical details, and will receive official recognition as the composer of the Jersey anthem.
Further information
Deputy Carolyn Labey
Tel.: 852488
Mobile 07797713140
email c.labey@gov.je
Ends.
