High School Composition & Songwriting Competition

Young songwriters and composers

Quick Info

Cost

No fee

Prizes

Songwriting:
   Grand Prize $250
   Runner up $100
   Runner up $100

Composition:
   Grand Prize $250
   Runner up $100
   Runner up $100

2024-25 Submission Deadline

December 15, 2024

Official Rules

 Contest rules (PDF)

The High School Composition and Songwriting Competition is an opportunity for young musicians to develop their skills. If you are a student preparing for post-secondary studies in music, this is a good way to prepare and learn about best recording practices.

Congratulations to the 2024-25 competition winners! 

Two categories are judged individually, with the winner of each category awarded a grand prize of $250. Two runners up in each category are awarded a prize of $100 each. In addition to cash prizes, the winners and runners up are offered a lesson or coaching opportunity at the Don Wright Faculty of Music!

The contest categories are:

  • Songwriting (contemporary song)
  • Composition (a piece of music in a classical genre or film score style)

What’s the catch?
There is no catch, no strings attached. You have no obligation to attend Western if you are a prize winner, but we'd love to see you here!

Last Year's Contest Information 

Submission Requirements

  • Only those students currently attending a Canadian High School are eligible to participate.
  • All participants must submit a video recording of 1-2 selections, with a combined length of no more than 10 minutes (criteria below).
  • Songwriters and composers can have others perform their music, or it may be generated on laptop or other electronic instrument.
  • Recordings can be submitted by YouTube link (visibility may be set to "unlisted"), Vimeo link (privacy may be set to "only people with a password"—but be sure to provide the password during registration).
  • Video recordings must be must be of high quality, especially the audio.

Criteria for composers

  • Originality within the idiom of classical or film music
  • idiomatic writing for instruments/voice; effective combining of instrumental/vocal components (orchestration); convincing harmonic/melodic/rhythmic language.

Criteria for songwriters

  • Originality within the idiom of popular music songwriting
  • Effective use of voice and instruments and/or technology
  • Compelling, unique lyrics

Who is adjudicating the competition?

The 2024 competition adjudicators are:

  • Composition: Paul Frehner, Associate Professor, Composition
  • Songwriting: Norma Coates, Associate Professor, Music History, Popular Music Studies 

What is the submission deadline?

The submission deadline for the 2024-25 contest was December 15, 2024.

Registration and Official Rules

Click here to view the official contest rules.

To register, click the button below. Happy composing, and best of luck! 
Under 18? You'll need a parent or guardian to help you finalize & submit your entry. 

2024-25 REGISTRATION CLOSED 

Winners

2024-25

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024-25 High School Competition! For full details and adjudicator insights, read the full announcement here.

Composition

Winner: Sky Yang (pictured below, left)
Runners Up: Joshua da Costa (pictured below, middle) and Joshua Young (pictured below, right)

High School Competition winners, Composition

Songwriting

Winner: Ryder James (pictured below, left)
Runners Up: Emily Wu (pictured below, middle) and Charlie Gao (pictured below, right)

High School Competition Winners, Songwriting

2023-24

Read the 2023-24 announcement here.

Composition

Grand Prize: Logan Ouimet 
Runner Up: Alvin Aung
Runner Up: John Waterfield 

Songwriting

Grand Prize: Alyssa Zahtila
Runner Up: Una Roulston
Runner Up: Paige Ashley 


Contact Us

Sasha Gorbasew
Recruitment Coordinator
519-661-2111 x80532
agorbase@uwo.ca