The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT),, is now accepting submissions for its 2023-24 program!
This is an opportunity for high school students all across the country to develop and showcase musical compositions that could be part of a musical theater production.
Submissions will be judged by a panel of leaders in the musical theater field — including NAMT members and festival of New Musicals Alumni Writers, among others — who will select the Challenge’s winning writers/writing teams.
Below are informational and educational events to learn more about Songwriting Challenge, and get first-hand tips and tricks from experts.
October 6th — Songwriting 101: Words & Lyrics
October 13th — Submission Clinic: Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students
November 3rd — Songwriting 201: The Music
Selected writers will be invited to New York City in June 2024 to work with mentors, culminating in a concert of their songs. To learn more, and to submit a song by the December 4, 2023 deadline, visit https://namt.org/challenge/.