HEAR YE! HEAR YE!
The Annual John McDonough Literary Award Contest is
NOW OPEN for submissions!
Calling all creative souls, young and old—this is your chance to shine! Whether you’re 16 years old or younger, or an adult over 16, we invite you to submit your very own poem or short story (300 words or less) based on a holiday theme. It can be humorous, spiritual, or reflective, and we welcome all cultural traditions!
DEADLINE
EXTENDED!
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Why not? Your winning submission will be read aloud by none other than radio personality Chion Wolf, who now holds the cherished position of Narrator for the Christmas Angelicus concerts, which will take place across the Northwest corner of Connecticut this December.
One prize will be awarded in the children’s category, and one in the adult category. The winners will receive their awards in a special ceremony at the Christmas Angelicus concert on December 14, 2025 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington. And here’s the best part—the prize for the winning submission in each category is $100!
So, grab a cup of cocoa, curl up with your favorite writing tool (whether it’s a pencil, iPad, or phone), and create your literary masterpiece! Join us for a holiday season filled with music, storytelling, and cheer.
WHO IS JOHN MCDONOUGH?
John McDonough was an ambassador for Reading is Fundamental (www.rif.org), bringing the magic of stories to elementary school classrooms. He recorded countless audiobooks and was the beloved Narrator of our Christmas Angelicus Concert series for many years.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 1, 2025
submit your original literary work below
The History of the John McDonough Literary Award
Chorus Angelicus revived this award in memory of our dear friend, longtime narrator and supporter, John McDonough, who passed away January 2021.
Historically, Chorus Angelicus collected submissions of original literary works that were to be read by John McDonough as part of our Christmas Angelicus Programs. We asked for poems or short stories based on a holiday theme. We invited all cultural traditions to participate with humorous, spiritual, or reflective works, 3 minutes or less in length and not previously published.
One prize was awarded to a child 16 or under, and one to an adult. The winning submissions were read at the Christmas Angelicus concerts by John McDonough, who was also on the decision committee.
Please consider a donation in memory of John McDonough to The John McDonough Literary Award Fund.
2025 Winners
A D U L T C A T E G O R Y (16 and older): Heidi Tummescheit
Duckie Goes A-Wassailing
Duckie ran into Walgreens to grab the last roll of wrapping paper, the very last one on the shelf.
Not the cute candy cane paper, not the elegant green pine tree paper but the very last roll of wrapping paper, the one that had red and green mushrooms on it. Because nobody wanted mushrooms.
Duckie said to herself, that’s fine, I like mushrooms, I don’t mind the pattern – but I’m not willing to pay full price for it. The cashier said, “Well, ma’am, that’s the veeery last roll of Christmas wrapping paper in the entire neighborhood – I should actually charge you double for it. Duckie said, “I will sing for it. I will sing ‘Here We Go A-Wassailing,’ and then you will give me the paper for half-price.” She opened her bill wide. The cashier blurted out, “Please, I will give it to you for half-price if you do not sing the song here.”
Duckie thought, that’s good. Why stop there? So she said, “I like this song so much I will sing it for free. You don’t have to give me anything for half-price,” and she drew a deep breath. And the cashier said, “Look! A reindeer!” and pointed out the window. The cashier thought Duckie would try to glimpse Santa, and would forget about the singing.
But Duckie was an old hand. She didn’t even turn her head. Instead, she called on her inner duck: she turned to the cashier and said, “Shall I siiiiiiiiing for my suuuuuupper?” and put on her crazy face. And the cashier’s eyes opened wide as she said, “Here ma’am, it’s on us today, have a Merry Christmas.” And as Duckie walked out of the store with her mushroom paper, the cashier breathed a sigh of relief.
Y O U T H C A T E G O R Y (15 and younger): Enzo Virello
That Holiday Feeling
That nice holiday feeling,
We feel it in the air,
We feel it all around us,
We feel it everywhere.
After all the leaves tumble off the trees,
Before all the snow falls down,
Right when it starts to get cold,
Right when it comes through our town.
It’s that feeling of loving,
It’s that feeling of gathering with family and friends,
It’s that feeling of warmth,
It comes forth right before the year ends.
When you eat to your heart's delight,
When you see the choirs singing merrily,
When you and everyone else comes together,
That time when we can all just be