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Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge | National Endowment for the Arts
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class="l-constrain l-constrain--xs"> <section class="l-section"> <div class="l-constrain l-constrain--xs"> <div class="l-section__content"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/submissions_open.png?itok=wByajj7s" width="800" height="800" alt="Submissions open, apply now for draft 1! Draft 1 submissions due January 31, 2025. For more information visit namt.org/songwriting"> </figure> <p><strong>The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is now accepting submissions for the 2024-25 program! </strong>An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is an opportunity for high school students to develop and showcase musical compositions that could be a part of a musical theater production. <strong>The deadline to submit is January 31, 2025.</strong></p><p><a class="arrow-link inline" href="https://www.arts.gov/news/press-releases/2024/submissions-open-2024-2025-musical-theater-songwriting-challenge">Learn more about the 2024-2025 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge in our press release</a></p><h3><strong>Watch the 2024 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge Concert on demand now!</strong></h3> <div class="video"> <div class="video__inner"> <iframe src="https://www.arts.gov/media/oembed?url=https%3A//youtu.be/7ia5ebFAdrU%3Fsi%3D_WcvOzGEyp2SIdXS&max_width=0&max_height=0&hash=UfOCml1ejSQzSbGg_TR2zBn2OwsQtM6moppzgZXr9Ls" width="200" height="113" class="media-oembed-content" loading="eager" title="🎶 Challenge Accepted! A Concert Presenting the Winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge"></iframe> </div> </div><p><a href="https://namt.org/events/challenge-accepted/#flex1" target="_blank">Concert program</a></p><p>The seven winning songs for the 2023-24 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge were presented in a special concert, recorded live from the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City. </p><p>Selected from more than 100 submissions, these captivating songs, featuring fully orchestrated arrangements performed by Broadway talent, deliver an unforgettable musical experience!</p><p><a class="arrow-link inline" href="https://namt.org/2024/05/meet-the-mtsc24-winners/">See excerpts of the winning song submissions and more information about the winners</a></p><h3><strong>About the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge</strong></h3><p>The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is designed to inspire high school students to write songs that could be part of a musical theater production, using 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. Learn more about past winners and hear their final songs at arts.gov/songwriting. The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is open to high school students from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories. For more information on how to participate and to access songwriting tools and resources, visit <a href="https://namt.org/challenge/">namt.org/challenge</a>.</p><p>The 2023-2024 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is held in collaboration with Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, and NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation.</p><p><em>The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge began as a pilot program in 2016 in three cities (Dallas, TX; Minneapolis, MN, Seattle, WA) before going national in 2017/2018. We invite you to check out the final songs from our previous years' winners from the </em><a href="https://www.arts.gov/about/news/2021/students-across-america-selected-winners-2021-musical-theater-songwriting-challenge"><em>2021</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.arts.gov/2020-musical-theater-songwriting-challenge-winners"><em>2020</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/musical-theater-songwriting-challenge/2019-recording-sessions"><em>2019</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/musical-theater-songwriting-challenge/2018-finalists-and-national-final"><em>2018</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/musical-theater-songwriting-challenge/pilot-songwriting-challenge-2016"><em>2016</em></a><em> competitions.</em></p> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="l-narrow-content__aside right"> <div class="l-constrain l-constrain--xs"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="l-narrow-content__footer"> <section class="l-section"> <div class="l-constrain l-constrain advanced-listing-block"> <div class="l-section__header"> <h2 class="l-section__title">Recent Songwriting Challenge News</h2> <div class="l-section__button"> <a href="/news/press-releases?f%5B0%5D=news_initiative%3A261" class="button">All Songwriting News</a> </div> </div> <div class="l-section__content"> <div class="views-element-container"> <div class="view view--advanced-listing view--display-image_card js-view-dom-id-49dedb28fbbd57925bd5f66e724bc3fa51311896847541e00835a4b326cf84b1"> <div class="view__content"> <div class="view__row"> <a href="/news/press-releases/2024/submissions-open-2024-2025-musical-theater-songwriting-challenge" class="card"> <div class="card__media"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card_square/public/images/songwriting_logo_08.22.2023_nov_2023_0.jpg?h=18e0ef39&itok=imTMIZur" width="600" height="600" alt="National Endowment for the Arts and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge. In collaboration with Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, and NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation" /> </div> <div class="card__body"> <div class="card__meta"> <span class="card__date card__meta-item"><time datetime="2024-08-06T12:00:00Z">Aug 06, 2024</time> </span> </div> <div class="card__title"> <span>Submissions Open for 2024-2025 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge</span> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="view__row"> <a href="/news/press-releases/2024/announcing-program-mentors-and-cast-challenge-accepted-concert-presenting-winners-musical-theater" class="card"> <div class="card__media"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card_square/public/images/streaminglivesocial.png?h=57024e64&itok=dVAX8j5B" width="600" height="600" alt="Text reading: Join us for Challenge Accepted! Monday, June 17 at 7pm ET. A concert presenting the winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students. Streaming Live from NYC. arts.gov/songwriting. namt.org/challenge. NEA and NAMT logos" /> </div> <div class="card__body"> <div class="card__meta"> <span class="card__date card__meta-item"><time datetime="2024-06-11T12:00:00Z">Jun 11, 2024</time> </span> </div> <div class="card__title"> <span>Announcing the Program Mentors and Cast for Challenge Accepted! A Concert Presenting the Winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge <br> </span> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class="view__row"> <a href="/news/press-releases/2024/announcing-musical-theater-songwriting-challenge-winners" class="card"> <div class="card__media"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card_square/public/images/top_card.png?h=57024e64&itok=AtWSoD1b" width="600" height="600" alt="Text reading “Congratulations to the 2024 Winners!” next to the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge Logo. Headshots of each winner with their name, song title, school, and school location" /> </div> <div class="card__body"> <div class="card__meta"> <span class="card__date card__meta-item"><time datetime="2024-05-21T12:00:00Z">May 21, 2024</time> </span> </div> <div class="card__title"> <span>Announcing the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge Winners</span> </div> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div class="e-newsletter"> <div class="l-constrain"> <div class="e-newsletter__wrapper"> <div class="e-newsletter__content"> <h3 class="e-newsletter__title">Stay Connected to the National Endowment for the Arts</h3> <div class="e-newsletter__text">Sign up for our newsletters and magazine</div> </div> <div class="e-newsletter__buttons"> <a href="/sign-up-for-updates" class="button button--secondary">Newsletter Signup</a> <a href="/form/sign-up-for-american-artscape-magazine" class="button button--secondary">Magazine Signup</a> </div> 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