Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge
“This national contest, now in its third year, is for high school students with a passion for writing songs that could be part of a musical theater production and the wide range of musical styles represented in contemporary musicals. The goal of the program is to engage the musical theater field in nurturing the next generation of songwriters.
The Songwriting Challenge will provide the winners with a coaching team consisting of a mentor and music director (both musical theater professionals) to hone the student’s original song into a Broadway-ready composition. Their song is then recorded by Broadway musicians and vocalists in New York City. Final songs are distributed on streaming music platforms and compiled into a songbook created by Concord Theatricals.”
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If music if a core part of your narrative arc, consider building on this interest with one of the following:
Spend the summer at the prestigious Berklee School of Music
Head to the “other Berkeley” and take an amazing summer course at U.C. Berkeley entitled Music in American Cultures
If your school offers the ability to do an independent study or a National History Day project, consider doing a research project on famous musicians influences on culture or conflicts, or even one of these historical figures, using some material from in the letters you transcribe. Note: these letters are Primary Sources for historical research purposes which makes any such research project even more impressive!
Consider doing a community impact project that involves music or folk music, like doing a nostalgia playlist for seniors in a home.
Compete at one of the YoungArts Performance Competitions.
Win prize money in the National Music Club competitions.
HOT TIP: It’s one thing to love (or perform in) musical theatre. It’s another altogether to song-write for it! This fun competition is sure to engage you, and to take your admissions prospects to the next level.