Music Unites the World Songwriting Contest
ETM-LA students perform previous winning song “Music Unites the World” at the LA Sparks Halftime
Show at Staples Center on June 18, 2019 with musical guest, Ricardo Hurtado (School of Rock, Nickelodeon).
Education Through Music-LA (ETM-LA) is excited to announce the 2024 Music Unites the World Songwriting Contest! The purpose of this contest is to produce an inspiring, high-quality, original song that speaks to the theme of music’s ability to unite the world. The winning piece will be premiered by students at the annual Music Unites the World Festival, a two-day event bringing together student performers from our partner schools across Los Angeles County.
For more info on ETM-LA’s mission, visit our about page.
PRIZE:
The winning piece will be premiered at the Music Unites the World Festival on March 7, 2024 (Skirball Cultural Center) in Los Angeles, CA. The piece will be sung by approximately 70-85 treble & alto singers (grades 4-6), accompanied on piano.
The winner will be invited to attend the premiere where they will receive a $1,000 cash prize. In addition, the composer will meet and work with the choir and director. Music industry professionals, educators, celebrity film composers, and other leaders will be in attendance. Past festival celebrity coaches include Academy Award and GRAMMY Award-Winning Producer Randy Spendlove, Emmy-Award Winning Producer Rickey Minor, Composers Blake Neely (Flash, Arrow), Christophe Beck (Frozen), Joseph Trapanese (Straight Outta Compton), Joseph Kraemer (Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation), and Harry Gregson-Williams (The Meg, Shrek), Producer Sebastian Krys (Shakira, Luis Fonsi, Juanes), Singer-Songwriter Judith Hill (The Voice, Prince), NOMAD (Babyface), Consultant CeCe Sammy (American Idol), and Solo Vocalist Lisbeth Scott (Shrek, Chronicles of Narnia).
PROCESS:
● Application materials are accepted via the online application. Entry Deadline: 12/20/2023 11:59 PM PT
● Songwriters/composers are asked to submit two scores (full score and vocal-only score) and a recording of an unpublished work for young treble voices (SA) on the theme of “Music Uniting the World”.
● FEE: $5 (USD) submission fee. All fees are payable online and are non-refundable.
TIMELINE:
● December 1st, 2023: Applications due. Pre-screening beings.
● December 20th, 2023: Finalists reviewed by judges who will select the winner.
● January 5th, 2024: Winner publicly announced.
● March 7th, 2024: Winning song will be premiered by ETM-LA Choir at the 2024 Music Unites the World Festival (Skirball Cultural Center; date subject to change) in Los Angeles, CA.
ELIGIBILITY AND TERMS:
Songwriting Contest Guidelines
ETM-LA reserves the right to not select a winner.