2022 NAfME Student Songwriters Competition

student songwriters

About the Competition

NAfME is seeking original music by student songwriters. Teachers and students are invited to submit original student songs.

Students in elementary school, secondary school, college, and graduate school are eligible to submit songs. Each entrant must be sponsored by a NAfME member teacher, or be a NAfME Collegiate member in good standing. Songs submitted that fall outside the competition guidelines will be adjudicated but will not be eligible for awards or for performance.  

Up to eight (8) selected composers will receive cash awards. All entrants will receive written evaluations of their compositions.

Please review the 2022 NAfME Student Songwriters Competition Rules and Entry Directions. 

How to Apply

All applications are submitted online through Submittable.

  • Log in or create a new account at http://www.submittable.com.
  • Click HERE to start your application
  • Fill out all fields on the form, and upload all necessary files, which include:
    • The Student Acknowledgement Form
      • Must be filled out, signed, and uploaded with your application.
    • Lyric Sheet as a PDF
    • The Audio of your song. Midi files are acceptable (from composition software applications).
  • Click here for tips on lyric sheets.
  • Questions? Contact: Programs@nafme.org

2022 NAfME Student Songwriters Competition Winners

K-8

Emma James for the song, Don’t Forget

  • London Middle School, Corpus Christi, Texas
  • Teacher, Luis Zepeda

Honorable Mention:

Eila Conopask for the song, One Day

  • Avon Middle School, Avon, Connecticut
  • Teacher, Jane Sitarz

High School

Yuta Takahashi for the song, Ice cream in the driveway

  • Greenwich High School, Greenwich, Connecticut
  • Teacher, Barbara Freedman

Honorable Mention:

Dexter Griffin for the song, disposition

  • Berkeley High School, Berkeley, California
  • Teacher, Karen Wells

Sanjna Rajagopalan for the song, Textbook Answers

  • Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, New Jersey
  • Teacher, Natalie Cardillo

Collegiate

Sam Harrison for the song, Hand of Hodges

  • Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

Honorable Mention:

Caroline Bergan for the song, Dear Stranger

  • Syracuse University – VPA – Setnor School of Music, Syracuse, New York

Roman Rivera for the song, Like Me More

  • Roman Rivera, Fresno, California

 

*Submission implies permission for NAfME to perform and record all selected works.