music essay competition 2023

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Scholarship Resources for Music Students

The following scholarship and grant opportunities are available to high school and college students involved in music education and music performance. They are provided here for the convenience of Tri-M Honor Society and NAfME Collegiate  members .

For more information on these scholarships, please visit the websites referenced. Know of a scholarship or opportunity that should be added to this list? E-mail  [email protected] . 

This page will be updated for the coming school year soon.

Browse Scholarships

Click on a category below to browse the scholarships:

Scholarships for High School Juniors

Scholarships for high school seniors, scholarships for college students, helpful links, music related scholarships, marine band concerto competition.

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, in conjunction with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, is pleased to announce its Concerto Competition for High School Musicians is open for applications. (All materials due Nov. 15, 2023). The winner will appear as a guest soloist with the Marine Chamber Orchestra and receive a $2,500 scholarship from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Second and third-place winners will receive $1,000 and $500 scholarships respectively.

• Deadline to apply: November 15, 2023

School Band & Orchestra Magazine Essay Scholarship

This scholarship offers prize money to students who write an essay of 250 words or less on a music theme. The deadline for the 23rd annual essay contest is March 31, 2024, 10PM CT.

• Selected students win a $1,000 scholarship and music products for their school music program.
• Public and private school students in ANY type of public, charter, or private k-12 school instrumental  or vocal program are eligible.

Davidson Fellows

The Davidson Fellowship is open to students who can demonstrate noteworthy achievements through the creation of a “significant piece of work” aimed at improving the lives of others in several subject areas, including music. A “significant piece of work” in music would be an exemplary performance and/or another demonstration of extraordinary accomplishment.

• Awards are granted in the amount of $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000.
• Applicants must be under the age of 18 to be eligible for this award.
• The 2022 application will be available November 1.

VSA International Young Soloists Competition

Each year, outstanding young musicians with disabilities, ages 14-25, are recognized by the VSA International Young Soloists Competition. The Kennedy Center selects up to four winners from around the world. Applicants can apply as an instrumental or vocal soloist, or as ensembles. The competition is open to all genres. Selected musicians win a $2,500 prize, professional development activities, and the opportunity to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Any musician with a disability is eligible to apply as either a domestic applicant or an international applicant. The competition is open to soloists as well as ensembles of up to five members. For ensembles to be eligible, at least one musician must have a disability, and all members must be between the ages of 14-25. All genres of music are accepted, including but not limited to classical, jazz, hip-hop, rap, rock/alt rock, pop, indie, bluegrass, folk, country, R&B/blues, Latin, and World

Deadline: January 18, 2023 Application information can be found on the VSA website.

National YoungArts Foundation

YoungArts accepts applications from young artists in the categories of Classical Music, Dance, Design Arts, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice and Writing for its national competition. Artists age 15-18 or in grades 10-12 may apply to win cash awards and scholarships and the chance to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

• Individual awards of up to $10,000 are available.
• The 2025 competition is now open. Deadline to enter: October 17, 2024.

Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter of the Year Music Scholarships

These scholarships are available to members of the Tri-M® Music Honor Society , a program of NAfME. The scholarship program offers scholarship money for summer study programs to chapters that win one of three recognitions at the national level in each division: senior (high school) and junior (middle school). Scholarship money is awarded by the advisors of the winning chapters to deserving students.

• Open only to members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
• Apply now ! Winners have the chance to win up to $1,000 in scholarship funds for summer music study.
• Deadline: April 29

Schmidt Vocal Scholarships

Schmidt Vocal Competition winners who choose to pursue a career in music may be eligible for need-based scholarship assistance to their college or university of choice.

• Singers who are first-, second-, or third-place winners of Schmidt Vocal Arts national competitions
• A committee reviews need by evaluating a family’s ability to pay
• Students are expected to major in Vocal Performance and maintain a 2.8 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale
• Schmidt prefers to provide “last-in” funding. In other words, the student has secured nearly all the necessary tuition through other sources.

Learn more about Schmidt Vocal Scholarships.

Jazz at the Ballroom Scholarships for California Students

The competition is open to high school jazz instrumentalists in California. Three winners will be picked by a panel of professional jazz musicians based on their submissions and awarded $1000 each to further their music studies. The students who aren’t finalists are invited to join a database of students invited to free workshops.

In addition, the winners’ respective schools will also receive $500 to support the ongoing development of their music programs.

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in a California high school program, between the ages of 14–18
• Deadline: December 9, 2022. Winners announced January 27, 2023.

Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge

The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts partnering with the American Theatre Wing and in collaboration with Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, iHeartRadio Broadway, and NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation. The Songwriting Challenge is a national competition for high school students who have a passion for writing songs that could be part of a musical theater production and the wide range of musical styles represented in contemporary musical theater including hip-hop, rock, R&B, country, jazz, and more.

Students for the Songwriting Challenge will be selected from across the country and paired with mentors working professionally in musical theatre to develop their songs into Broadway-stage-ready compositions, via video chats and working sessions. Students’ songs will be professionally recorded by Broadway artists in New York City. The songs will included on a digital album on all major streaming services, and broadcast on iHeartRadio Broadway, as well as published in a songbook by Concord Theatricals.

• Deadline January 31, 2024; follow the NEA on social media for more information ( Twitter ; Facebook ).

The Music Center’s Spotlight

Southern California High School students of ALL skill levels are encouraged to apply for FREE. Much more than a competition, Spotlight is a scholarship and arts training program, which empowers students by emphasizing preparation, courage, critical thinking and perseverance while providing an invaluable opportunity for students to hone their skills! $100,000 in cash scholarships are awarded each year to students. Personalized feedback, master classes with world renowned artists, performing arts workshops and more!

• Deadline: October 17

Flying Musicians Association – FMA Solo Program/Scholarship

Musician: a person who writes, sings or plays music.

Calling high school student musicians with a passion to learn to fly. There are specific skills and characteristics establish in student musicians: practice, timing, and perfection along with hand eye coordination, multi-tasking, listening, and working closely with others. Musicians are taught to practice for perfection in order to perform at a very high level of accuracy. These are traits you also find in good pilots.

The Flying Musicians Association, Inc (FMA) is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization for pilot/musicians. The annual FMA Solo program for junior and senior high school music students is unique. Students must be nominated by their music director/teacher for the program which includes a FREE membership into the ever-expanding network of pilot/musicians from around the world who have the ability to inspire, motivate, encourage, and assist in achieving goals in academics, aviation, and music. FMs share passions to expand opportunities.

Recipients will receive funds to assist in flight training and help them go from zero time to solo. Training materials and equipment donated by members and sponsors is also included. FMA will familiarize the recipient with the aviation community, the obstacles of training, and other opportunities to assist in achieving their dream of flight.

• Nomination deadline January 31st
• Nominee must be 16 years old by March 31st
• Awards announced May 1st
• Parental approval required under 18 years old
• Details and journals from past recipients

Coastal Concerts Scholarships

Coastal Concerts may award scholarships of up to $1,500 each to High School students, and up to $1,000 each to Middle School students residing in the Delmarva Peninsula, one of whom in each category must be a resident of Sussex County. Students will be competing only against those in their own age group. The scholarships awarded will be based upon performance. Scholarships may be used for music camps, university courses, instrument purchase/repair, or music lessons. The scholarship application period runs from November 15, 2021, to February 15, 2022. Scholarship decisions are made by early March.

• Deadline: February 15, 2022

Community Service/Extracurricular Activities Oriented-Scholarships

The discover student loans scholarship award.

The Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open only to residents of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, and the US territories who are at least sixteen (16) years old at the time of entry. Entrants must also be high school senior students who will be or college students who are enrolled at least half-time in a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree program or graduate program at an eligible school within one (1) year of winner notification/confirmation or parent/legal guardians of students that satisfy the above eligibility requirements.

• Throughout the year, 12 eligible students or parents will be randomly selected to win a $5,000 Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award to help cover college expenses.
• Click here for a list of deadlines occurring throughout the year

SYTA Youth Foundation “Road” Scholarship

Students planning educational travel programs but needing financial assistance can apply for a “Road” Scholarship offered by the SYTA Youth Foundation, Inc. (SYF). The SYF provides scholarships three times a year. Music directors, teachers, principals, and other youth leaders can submit nominations.

• All Road Scholarship nominations are required to be submitted by an educator, program leader, or designated school official for students in grades K-12 and 18 years of age or younger. Please note that the SYTA Youth Foundation (SYF) will not consider nominations submitted by parents and/or guardians.
• Awards up to $1,000 are available.
• Fall application opens September 19, 2022, and closes November 11, 2022.

Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition

Grand Teton Music Festival Annual Scholarship Competition. The Grand Teton Music Festival presents its fifth annual Scholarship Competition named for its Music Director, Sir Donald Runnicles. The competition is open to High School seniors in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho who interested in attending college for music. The first round begins with a pre-screening video audition and online application. From these audition videos, GTMF will select 6 semi-finalists to travel to Jackson, WY to perform in Walk Festival Hall for a panel of professional orchestra musician judges, including Maestro Runnicles himself.

• First prize is $25,000; second prize is $15,000; and third prize is $10,000.
• Deadline: Friday, May 6, 2022, 11:59 PM MT
• The date of the Scholarship Competition Semi-finals and Finals will be Monday, July 11, 2022.

Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship

This award is given to graduating high school seniors or first-year college students who intend to make music a central part of their future life.

• Applicants submit audition CDs or tapes; finalists compete in Clarinda, Iowa; and 3 instrumentalists and 3 vocalists are chosen to perform at the Glenn Miller Festival. Winners receive up to $4,500.
• Competition scheduled for June 9, 2022

This scholarship offers prize money to students who write an essay of 250 words or less on a music theme.

The deadline for the 23rd annual essay contest is March 31, 2024, 10PM CT.

Hartford Jazz Society (HJS) Scholarship

Scholarships are awarded annually with an award value between $1000.00 and $3000.00 depending on the number of applicants and the quality of submissions. Scholarships are paid directly to the student, who must provide HJS with a completed W-9 form. The HJS does not require live auditions.

• Deadline June 1, 2022

HJS Scholarship Selection Criteria:

• Graduating high school senior
• Connecticut Capitol Region resident
• Attending a four-year college or university
• Music major with interest in jazz
• Talent as judged by a panel

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Scholarship

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation provides funds to select seniors from Cleveland and New York City public high schools who intend to study music or the business of music at the college level. Scholarships are awarded based on personal essays. The scholarships total $50,000 with the monies split evenly between Cleveland and New York.

• General applications deadline: March 15, 2022
• Corporate/Group applications deadline: April 15, 2022
• Renewal requirements: April 1, 2022

Any musician with a disability is eligible to apply as either a domestic applicant or an international applicant. The competition is open to soloists as well as ensembles of up to five members. For ensembles to be eligible, at least one musician must have a disability, and all members must be between the ages of 14-25.

All genres of music are accepted, including but not limited to classical, jazz, hip-hop, rap, rock/alt rock, pop, indie, bluegrass, folk, country, R&B/blues, Latin, and World Deadline: January 18, 2023 Application information can be found on the VSA website .

CBC Spouses Heineken USA Performing Arts Scholarship Competition

This scholarship fund is operated by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and offers scholarship funds to highly motivated students who plan to attend, or are currently attending, an accredited college or university or are pursuing a career in the performing arts.

• Deadline: April 30, 2022

J.W. Pepper 150th Anniversary Music Scholarships

J.W. Pepper is celebrating its 150-year journey supporting music education by offering the J.W. Pepper 150th Anniversary Scholarship Program. This landmark program awards over $150,000 in college scholarships to empower aspiring musicians to pursue their dream of becoming music teachers. The awards include fifty-two $3,000 scholarships—one recipient in each state, Washington D.C., and the combined U.S. territories. The top-rated recipient will receive a $10,000 award.

Each scholarship applicant must be entering their first year as a full-time student in the Fall 2025 semester with a major in music education. As Pepper commemorates our rich 150-year legacy, we invite students from every corner of the nation to participate in this extraordinary opportunity. Students can find additional information by visiting jwpepper.com/scholarships. Scholarship applications will be accepted starting in October 2024.

The competition is open to high school jazz instrumentalists in California. Three winners will be picked by a panel of professional jazz musicians based on their submissions and awarded $1000 each to further their music studies. The students who aren’t finalists are invited to join a database of students invited to free workshops. In addition, the winners’ respective schools will also receive $500 to support the ongoing development of their music programs.

Southern California High School students of ALL skill levels are encouraged to apply for FREE . Much more than a competition, Spotlight is a scholarship and arts training program, which empowers students by emphasizing preparation, courage, critical thinking and perseverance while providing an invaluable opportunity for students to hone their skills! $100,000 in cash scholarships are awarded each year to students. Personalized feedback, master classes with world renowned artists, performing arts workshops and more!

Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition

The Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program (YYPA) recognizes outstanding young musicians from the world of classical, jazz and contemporary music. Winners of this competition will be invited to attend an all-expense paid weekend at the Music for All™ Summer Symposium, receive a once in a lifetime performance opportunity in front of thousands, national press coverage, receive a recording and photos of the live performance, and participate in workshops designed to launch a professional music career. Winners also will enjoy many of the privileges of a Yamaha Artist, including services and communication with Yamaha’s Artist Relations department.

• 2024 YYPA competition deadline is January 14, 2024, 11:59PM ET

Montana: American Indian Music Scholarships

As Montana’s only nonprofit community music school, North Valley Music School founded this scholarship to encourage the pursuit of music education, provide philanthropic funding for American Indians and indigenous communities, and enable broader public awareness of the diverse musical contributions of Montana’s American Indians to the culture of our state and region. We seek to honor and award such individuals as role models of citizenship, creativity, and entrepreneurship in the arts.

• Two $500 scholarships to be used for any need
• Application deadline: March 31, 2022

Lift Up Our Voices Scholarship

The Lift Up Our Voices Scholarship focuses on broadening the number of female-identifying students and students of color in the field of music composition. This $3,500 scholarship is eligible to candidates who fit these criteria .

• 2023 application opens in September

Southeastern Performance Apparel Music Education Scholarship

The Southeastern Performance Apparel Music Education Scholarship is a nomination-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors that intend to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education at an accredited university or college. Students are recognized as highly motivated, difference-makers with a dedication and desire to lead, serve and teach. Each year two recipients are selected to each receive the $1,000 scholarship.

• Deadline for Teacher Nominations: December 15, 2021
• Deadline for Student Nominee Application Submissions: February 15, 2022

Musicians Making a Difference Scholarship

Pearl is proud to announce the “Musicians Making A Difference” college scholarship initiative that will award $10,000 annually in the amount of two $5,000 scholarships to high school musicians who have demonstrated the ability to change themselves, their community, and those around them. A diverse panel of Pearl staff and artists will select recipients based on the student’s contributions to their community, and not their playing or vocal ability. Our objective is to reward and inspire the youth that will shape tomorrow. We look forward to the engagement and interaction with all who share our goals. Learn about eligibility requirements.

• Deadline: April 15, 2022

Big Arts Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship

BIG ARTS offers a Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship Award Program to high school seniors who are planning to study the arts or to students who are currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program. Scholarships are available to students who have professional goals to pursue visual arts, music, dance, theater, literary arts or film. The purpose of the award program is to encourage artistic development in students.

• To apply or learn more about the BIG ARTS 2022 Scholarship Award Program, go to www.bigarts.org or call the BIG ARTS office at 239-395-0900.
• Deadline: March 25, 2022

Lessons in Your Home Scholarship

The Lessons In Your Home Scholarship is open to prospective and enrolled college students (high school seniors who are 18 are also welcome). A $500 scholarship is being awarded for the Fall of 2022. This scholarship can only be used for educational expenses including tuition, books, rooming, and other appropriate expenses.

• Deadline: March 25, 2022 (winner to be notified April 12, 2022)

Musician: a person who writes, sings or plays music. Calling high school student musicians with a passion to learn to fly. There are specific skills and characteristics establish in student musicians: practice, timing, and perfection along with hand eye coordination, multi-tasking, listening, and working closely with others. Musicians are taught to practice for perfection in order to perform at a very high level of accuracy. These are traits you also find in good pilots.

CBC Spouses Education Scholarship

This opportunity awards scholarships to academically talented and highly motivated full-time African-American or Black students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees in a variety of fields.

Coca-Cola Scholars Program

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards a total of $3.4 million annually in achievement-based, four-year scholarships to 250 outstanding high school seniors from communities across the U.S. Students will be selected based on their leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, character, motivation to succeed, and community service.

• 200 Regional Scholarships of $10,000 each and 50 National Scholarships of $20,000 each will be rewarded.
• Deadline: October 31 (applications reopen on August 1)

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Sponsored in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, these awards honor young people in grades 5 through 12 who have volunteered in their communities. This award program is the country’s largest volunteer recognition program for young people.

• Deadline: November 4

Scholarships for Marching Musicians The following organizations offer resources for marching musicians who are looking for college funds.

• Music for All : provides music scholarships including the Revelli Fund for students planning to complete a music degree
• Winter Guard International : provides funds to select annual WGI World Championships participants. Next deadline: February 7, 2022.
• Women Band Directors International : offers scholarships from $300 to $500 to women

BMI John Lennon Songwriting Program

The John Lennon Scholarships are an annual competition open to student songwriters and composers of contemporary musical genres including alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, R&B, and experimental. Through the generosity of Ono and Gibson Musical Instruments, three scholarships totaling $20,000 are presented annually for the best original songs submitted to the competition. Applicants must be U.S. college students between the ages of 17 and 24. Works are judged by a prestigious panel of music publishers, songwriters, musicians, and executives.

• Through the generosity of Ono and Gibson Musical Instruments, three scholarships totaling $20,000 are presented annually for the best original songs in any musical genre.
• Deadline: February 4, 2022
• See the BMI Contest page for more information.

Shannon Kelly Kane Scholarship

The Shannon Kelly Kane Scholarship was created by Shannon’s family and friends in coordination with the National Association for Music Education to honor her exemplary life and her love of teaching music.

• The scholarship award is available to graduating seniors from any higher education institution pursuing a degree in music education and planning to teach or pursue an advanced degree in music.
• Scholarship will be awarded prior to graduation.
• The scholarship award is open to current members of NAfME Collegiate, who have been nominated for the NAfME Collegiate Professional Achievement Recognition . The award recipient will be chosen from this group of nominees.
• Applicants submit audition CDs or tapes; finalists compete in Clarinda, Iowa; and 3 instrumentalists and 3 vocalists are chosen to perform at the Glenn Miller Festival. Winners receive up to $4,000.

Great Value Colleges Music Scholarship for Black Students

Great Value Colleges has developed a scholarship that is available for Black undergraduate or graduate students who are majoring or minoring in music. Whether you are pursuing a degree in music performance, music education, music therapy, or some other type of music major, we invite you to apply for our twice yearly $5,000 scholarship .

• Application Deadlines: July 30 (fall award); November 30 (spring award).
• More information about the scholarship application process
• Deadline: January 18, 2023
• Application information can be found on the VSA website .

Top of the Rock Peggy Gram Scholarship Fund

The Top of the Rock Peggy Gram Scholarship Fund provides scholarships specifically to women involved in Music Education or Vocal Performance Education at the secondary level to assist in the furtherance of their music education. Women who have completed at least one semester at the university level achieving at least 12 credits are eligible to apply for the scholarship to be awarded annually in the spring for the subsequent academic year.

BIG ARTS offers a Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship Award Program to high school seniors who are planning to study the arts or to students who are currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program.Scholarships are available to students who have professional goals to pursue visual arts, music, dance, theater, literary arts or film. The purpose of the award program is to encourage artistic development in students.

House of Blues Music Forward Foundation

Music Forward transforms lives, inspires careers and champions a more inclusive music industry. Focusing on young people from under-served communities, Music Forward sets the stage for success by providing workshops, showcases, scholarships, and internships to inspire the next generation of music industry leaders and innovators.

• A total of four $10,000 scholarships will be awarded to outstanding college students—in either their junior or senior year—majoring in music business and/or related fields at an accredited college or university in the U.S.
• Applications open January

The Lessons In Your Home Scholarship is open to prospective and enrolled college students. A $500 scholarship is being awarded for the Fall of 2022. This scholarship can only be used for educational expenses including tuition, books, rooming, and other appropriate expenses.

Native Launchpad

Native Launchpad is the cornerstone program of Advancing Indigenous Performance (AIP), Western Arts Alliance’s national initiative to create new touring and presentation opportunities for US-based Indigenous performing artists. Four awardees will each receive direct financial and travel support, mentoring/coaching, career development and promotional benefits over three years — a package valued at $40,000. Applications, which are open to Native performing artists residing in the US and territories, are being accepted through 5pm PT on Wednesday, April 27.

• Deadline to apply : April 27, 2022

Native Artist Opportunity Fund

This new financial assistance award program from Western Arts Alliance’s AIP program will aid US-based Indigenous performing artists with short-term needs related to the promotion, development and sharing of their work or practice. The program, which is open to Indigenous performing artists residing in the US and territories, is designed to be flexible and responsive to artists’ needs; artists may apply for funds for a wide range of eligible uses, with grants capped at $750. The program has a rolling deadline, with a monthly review process.

• Rolling deadline — apply now

CBCF NREI Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Scholarship

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s National Racial Equity Initiative for Social Justice (NREI) HBCU Social Justice Scholarships were created to encourage and support the next generation of social justice leaders committed to dismantling systemic barriers and advancing equity, freedom, and justice for all, especially the Black community and racial minorities. The funds will be disbursed on an annual basis to undergraduate, graduate or doctoral level students attending Historically Black Colleges or Universities, pursuing studies related to social justice to include, but not limited to, criminal justice, education, civil rights or community/economic development. Students must demonstrate their interests and experience in social justice, student activism, and/or community service.

Other Scholarships and Grants

The Propel Center Scholarships

This new scholarship program, directed at HBCU students who are interested in pursuing careers in entrepreneurship, arts & entertainment, agri-tech, social justice and health, is open to rising sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students alike. Propel Center will donate a total of 100 $10,000 scholarship awards to the winners, an investment that the Center believes will help to transform the nation’s talent pipeline and workforce. The Student Impact Scholarship winners will also have the unique opportunity to participate in work-based learning opportunities with Propel Center’s corporate partners.

To apply for the 2022 Propel Student Impact Scholarships, students must complete an online application and may also submit a self-created video or infographic describing how their interest in entrepreneurship, the arts & entertainment, agri-tech, social justice or health aligns with the Propel Center’s mission. Applicants are encouraged to share their video or infographic submission on a social media platform and tag Propel Center. All video submissions should also be shared via Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, while infographics should be shared on the applicant’s Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter channels.

• Deadline: March 14, 2022.
• Scholarship winners will be notified March 23, 2022

Osmosis “Raise the Line” Scholarship

This scholarship signifies Osmosis’s continued support of education in the health sciences. Training health professionals has never been more important in our lifetimes. At Osmosis, we believe every healthcare student deserves the best education possible. And we’re doing whatever we can to reach further and help students on this journey. We’re providing six scholarships—one $5,000.00 USD award and five individual $1,000.00 USD awards—to selected students pursuing a degree in medicine, nursing, or other health science-related degrees.

• More information

International Alliance for Women in Music: 2022 Education Grant

The International Alliance for Women in Music is offering a $300 classroom grant to music educators of students aged 4-18. This grant is to help teachers bring a greater focus on women in music to their students through professional development, materials, commissions, guest artists, or other media. Projects may vary, and we encourage applicants to be as creative as they wish in their proposals. The grant may be used to supplement other funds for a large project.

• Deadline to apply : October 25, 2022

AdvertiseMint Facebook Advertising Scholarship

The AdvertiseMint Advertising and Marketing Scholarship Program was created to help students jump start their businesses while in school by utilizing Facebook advertising .

• Scholarship submission due by October 31.
• Winning submission selected by November 29.

Aging Matters Scholarship

SeniorCare.com continues to bring more awareness to the key issues we face as an aging population. For the 7th consecutive year, we will be awarding an annual college scholarship to an individual that best demonstrates to us why “Aging Matters” to them. A $1500 scholarship will be given annually to a selected college student that currently cares for an aging loved one, works within the senior community, or intends to pursue a career that will have an impact on the elder population. Any existing student (or incoming freshman), in good academic standing, at a 2- or 4-year accredited college can apply for this scholarship. The recipient will demonstrate a unique and admirable understanding and desire to show us that “Aging Matters” to them.

• Deadline Date: May 15th, 2022
• Selection Date: June 15th, 2022

Alfred Nash Patterson grants

Grants may be used in a wide variety of ways to support choruses and choral singing, such as to help fund a performance, to commission new choral works, to enable outreach activities, and for seminars or other special activities that broadly benefit the choral community. We encourage ambitious and collaborative projects, and generally will happily consider applications for well-considered projects conducted more than one year in the future, to allow time for planning. Criteria for funding are described below.

• Grants will be made in amounts up to $2,500.
• Deadline: February 28, 2022

Florin|Roebig Scholarship Essay Contest

The law firm of Florin|Roebig knows how valuable higher education can be, not only in shaping society but in helping young people reach their long-term academic and professional goals. For this reason, we’re proud to announce a scholarship contest awarding $1,500.

Award Details:

• First place: $750
• Second place: $500
• Third place: $250
• Scholarship award funds will be sent directly the scholarship winner’s University/College

Learn more about eligibility and how to apply.

2022-2023 Clean Energy Scholarship for Students

Write us an essay based on the clean energy debate and submit it to our scholarship email. Winners will be announced in December 2022. What Is the Best Source of Clean Energy and Why? Calling on your own human experience living in a world that is fighting for solutions for cleaner, sustainable, and renewable energy solutions, as well as thorough research from credible sources, write an original essay which discusses this topic. More details

• First place : $750
• Second place : $500
• Third place : $250

Award winnings will be made payable to the educational institution of scholarship winners in January 2023. Apply now

State Music Educators Association Scholarships

Some state music educators associations offer scholarships to high school or college music students. Visit the NAfME  Federated State Associations page  and click on your state MEA website to check for opportunities.

Scholarship Information and Resources

The BMI Foundation, Inc.

The BMI Foundation is a non-profit that supports music study and performance through various awards and scholarships.

ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) offers a variety of songwriting contests, some of which award cash prizes. The ASCAP Foundation offers a list of music-related awards and scholarships.

Scholarships for Music Majors

MajoringinMusic.com has compiled a comprehensive list of scholarships for music majors, along with helpful tips.

Online Education Database

Includes a list of music scholarships and grants of up to $10,000.

Develops a “customized profile” to match applicants with potential scholarships. NOTE: This website DOES have a marketing angle. You will be asked if you would like to receive information, or have your name provided to their supporters for marketing purposes. If you do not wish to receive any marketing information, simply click on all “no thank you” options. NAfME cannot be held responsible for any marketing contact you may receive through the use of this website.

45+ College Scholarships for Minority Students

Published by Purdue University Global, this resource shares upwards of 45 scholarships for students as well as potential graduate students to supplement the cost of education. Also, highlighted within the resource are opportunities dedicated to specific demographics.

Scholarships for Women

This article introduces dozens of college scholarships for women, including scholarships for Black women, scholarships for single mothers, and scholarships for Hispanic women.

Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a Students

According to the National Center for Education Statistics , the percentage of Hispanic individuals aged 18-24 who were enrolled in postsecondary education programs increased from 22% in 2000 to 36% in 2018. With this increased presence in higher education, the need for grants and scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/Latinx learners continues to grow. To help with this BestColleges.com created a guide to all the top scholarships available for Latino/Latinx students.

Coding Bootcamp Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Students

This guide highlights a few of the coding bootcamp scholarships available to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“ Grants vs. Scholarships: Paying for College with Gift Aid ” published by San Joaquin Valley College

Scholarships.com

Provides a customized profile for information on college choices, available Federal loans and scholarship opportunities.

The College Board’s Scholarship Search

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NPR’s All Things Considered explored in a week-long series in May 2005, how American families of various financial means—and in different stages of life—are figuring out how to finance higher education.

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This resource from Jackson Hewitt succinctly breaks down how scholarships, grants, and fellowships affect your taxes to help avoid any potential tax filing mishaps.

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The Best Student Writing Contests for 2023-2024

Help your students take their writing to the next level.

When students write for teachers, it can feel like an assignment. When they write for a real purpose, they are empowered! Student writing contests are a challenging and inspiring way to try writing for an authentic audience— a real panel of judges —and the possibility of prize money or other incentives. We’ve gathered a list of the best student writing contests, and there’s something for everyone. Prepare highly motivated kids in need of an authentic writing mentor, and watch the words flow.

1.  The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

With a wide range of categories—from critical essays to science fiction and fantasy—The Scholastic Awards are a mainstay of student contests. Each category has its own rules and word counts, so be sure to check out the options  before you decide which one is best for your students.

How To Enter

Students in grades 7-12, ages 13 and up, may begin submitting work in September by uploading to an online account at Scholastic and connecting to their local region. There are entry fees, but those can be waived for students in need.

2.  YoungArts National Arts Competition

This ends soon, but if you have students who are ready to submit, it’s worth it. YoungArts offers a national competition in the categories of creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word. Student winners may receive awards of up to $10,000 as well as the chance to participate in artistic development with leaders in their fields.

YoungArts accepts submissions in each category through October 13. Students submit their work online and pay a $35 fee (there is a fee waiver option).

3. National Youth Foundation Programs

Each year, awards are given for Student Book Scholars, Amazing Women, and the “I Matter” Poetry & Art competition. This is a great chance for kids to express themselves with joy and strength.

The rules, prizes, and deadlines vary, so check out the website for more info.

4.  American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest

If you’re looking to help students take a deep dive into international relations, history, and writing, look no further than this essay contest. Winners receive a voyage with the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, DC.

Students fill out a registration form online, and a teacher or sponsor is required. The deadline to enter is the first week of April.

5.  John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

This annual contest invites students to write about a political official’s act of political courage that occurred after Kennedy’s birth in 1917. The winner receives $10,000, and 16 runners-up also receive a variety of cash prizes. ADVERTISEMENT

Students may submit a 700- to 1,000-word essay through January 12. The essay must feature more than five sources and a full bibliography.

6. Bennington Young Writers Awards

Bennington College offers competitions in three categories: poetry (a group of three poems), fiction (a short story or one-act play), and nonfiction (a personal or academic essay). First-place winners receive $500. Grab a poster for your classroom here .

The contest runs from September 1 to November 1. The website links to a student registration form.

7. The Princeton Ten-Minute Play Contest

Looking for student writing contests for budding playwrights? This exclusive competition, which is open only to high school juniors, is judged by the theater faculty of Princeton University. Students submit short plays in an effort to win recognition and cash prizes of up to $500. ( Note: Only open to 11th graders. )

Students submit one 10-page play script online or by mail. The deadline is the end of March. Contest details will be published in early 2024.

8. Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students

The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize recognizes outstanding work by student writers in 11th grade. Prizes range from $100 to $500.

Students in 11th grade can submit their poetry. Contest details will be published this fall.

9. The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest

This contest is also a wonderful writing challenge, and the New York Times includes lots of resources and models for students to be able to do their best work. They’ve even made a classroom poster !

Submissions need to be made electronically by November 1.

10.  Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

The deadline for this contest is the end of October. Sponsored by Hollins University, the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest awards prizes for the best poems submitted by young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Prizes include cash and scholarships. Winners are chosen by students and faculty members in the creative writing program at Hollins.

Students may submit either one or two poems using the online form.

11.  The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers is open to high school sophomores and juniors, and the winner receives a full scholarship to a  Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop .

Submissions for the prize are accepted electronically from November 1 through November 30.

12. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

High school students can win up to $1,000 and publication by entering an essay on a topic specified by the Jane Austen Society related to a Jane Austen novel.

Details for the 2024 contest will be announced in November. Essay length is from six to eight pages, not including works cited.

13. Rattle Young Poets Anthology

Open to students from 15 to 18 years old who are interested in publication and exposure over monetary awards.

Teachers may choose five students for whom to submit up to four poems each on their behalf. The deadline is November 15.

14. The Black River Chapbook Competition

This is a chance for new and emerging writers to gain publication in their own professionally published chapbook, as well as $500 and free copies of the book.

There is an $18 entry fee, and submissions are made online.

15. YouthPlays New Voices

For students under 18, the YouthPlays one-act competition is designed for young writers to create new works for the stage. Winners receive cash awards and publication.

Scroll all the way down their web page for information on the contest, which accepts non-musical plays between 10 and 40 minutes long, submitted electronically. Entries open each year in January.

16. The Ocean Awareness Contest

The 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest, Tell Your Climate Story , encourages students to write their own unique climate story. They are asking for creative expressions of students’ personal experiences, insights, or perceptions about climate change. Students are eligible for a wide range of monetary prizes up to $1,000.

Students from 11 to 18 years old may submit work in the categories of art, creative writing, poetry and spoken word, film, interactive media and multimedia, or music and dance, accompanied by a reflection. The deadline is June 13.

17. EngineerGirl Annual Essay Contest

Each year, EngineerGirl sponsors an essay contest with topics centered on the impact of engineering on the world, and students can win up to $500 in prize money. This contest is a nice bridge between ELA and STEM and great for teachers interested in incorporating an interdisciplinary project into their curriculum. The new contest asks for pieces describing the life cycle of an everyday object. Check out these tips for integrating the content into your classroom .

Students submit their work electronically by February 1. Check out the full list of rules and requirements here .

18. NCTE Student Writing Awards

The National Council of Teachers of English offers several student writing awards, including Achievement Awards in Writing (for 10th- and 11th-grade students), Promising Young Writers (for 8th-grade students), and an award to recognize Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines.

Deadlines range from October 28 to February 15. Check out NCTE.org for more details.

19. See Us, Support Us Art Contest

Children of incarcerated parents can submit artwork, poetry, photos, videos, and more. Submissions are free and the website has a great collection of past winners.

Students can submit their entries via social media or email by October 25.

20. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose

The Adroit Journal, an education-minded nonprofit publication, awards annual prizes for poetry and prose to exceptional high school and college students. Adroit charges an entry fee but also provides a form for financial assistance.

Sign up at the website for updates for the next round of submissions.

21. National PTA Reflections Awards

The National PTA offers a variety of awards, including one for literature, in their annual Reflections Contest. Students of all ages can submit entries on the specified topic to their local PTA Reflections program. From there, winners move to the local area, state, and national levels. National-level awards include an $800 prize and a trip to the National PTA Convention.

This program requires submitting to PTAs who participate in the program. Check your school’s PTA for their deadlines.

22. World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international contest open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, as well as those in home-study programs. The $500 prize is based on an essay that addresses one of this year’s two prompts.

Students can submit entries via email or regular mail before May 1.

23. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

The National Society of High School Scholars awards three $2,000 scholarships for both poetry and fiction. They accept poetry, short stories, and graphic novel writing.

Apply online by October 31.

Whether you let your students blog, start a podcast or video channel, or enter student writing contests, giving them an authentic audience for their work is always a powerful classroom choice.

If you like this list of student writing contests and want more articles like it, subscribe to our newsletters to find out when they’re posted!

Plus, check out our favorite anchor charts for teaching writing..

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Best 2024 Competitions for Students in Grades K-12

Competitions in STEM, ELA and the arts, and more! Continue Reading

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CFMTA National Essay Competition – Winners 2024

CFMTA 2024 National Essay Competition Winners

The National CFMTA Essay Competition invites submissions of essays on any research topic related to music teaching, pedagogy or performance practice. This competition is open to all Canadian residents currently studying at the high school, undergraduate, masters and doctoral university graduate levels.

The CFMTA/FCAPM prize to honor Dr. Lorna Wanzel is awarded to the first-place recipient in the doctorate degree category. The prize for the masters level is provided by donors Joanne Lougheed, Karren Turpin, Leanne Hiebert and Catherine Bartlett. The undergraduate prize this year is provided by The Northwest Territory Music Teachers Association. The high school level will not be awarded this year.

CFMTA is pleased to congratulate the winners of the 2024 National Essay Competition

University Doctoral Level / Niveau universitaire doctoral

1 st place  ($1000.00) Sponsored by CFMTA/FCAPM in honor of founder and major donor, Dr. Lorna Wanzel

Changchun Du, McGill University Schulich School of Music Exploration of Cultivating Children's Musical Expressiveness in Piano Playing: A musical case study of Robert Schumann's Album for the Young Op. 68

University Graduate Level / Niveau universitaire – deuxième cycle

1 st place  ($1,000.00) Co-Winners $500.00 each Sponsored by Donors: Joanne Lougheed, Karen Turpin, Leanne Hiebert, Catherine Bartlett

Co-winner Charmaine Iormetti , University of Western Ontario At the Beginning of Phonation: Creation of Vocal Colours through Glottal Configuration and Vocal Tract Filtering

Co-winner Julia Perry, Memorial University of Newfoundland When I’m Holding a Trumpet, I Don’t Get Misgendered: Exploring the Intersections between Instrument-Gender Associations and the Transgender Experience

University Undergraduate / Premier cycle universitaire 

1 st place ($500.00) Sponsored by Music Teachers' Association of the Northwest Territories

Sophia Kagolovskaya,  Wilfrid Laurier University Clara Schumann’s Career and Gender: The Masculine Gender Role and the Werktreue Paradigm

High School / Élèves du secondaire

Not presented in 2024

Our adjudicators for the 2024 competition were:

• Olivia Adams MA
• Dr. Emily Logan
• Dr. Lori Lynn Penny
• Bronwyn Schuman, MM
• Susan Shantora, MMus, NATS
• Dr. Bethany Turpin

 Competition Results

Announcing the 2023 essay prize winners special congratulations to those who achieved a distinction or high distinction in this year's competition. those who did so but did not attend the prize-giving ceremony will be contacted by email, providing access to their ecertificates by the end of the month . p hotographs from our prize-winning ceremony and related events in oxfo rd will be emailed to those who attended.  , grand prize, hosei kishida, shanghai american school, china.

Junior Prize

Winner:    Xibei Kuang, Pinehurst school, New Zealand

Second Prize:  Alissa Song, Kambala, Australia

Third Prize:   Iris Zhu, Bement School, USA

ECONOMICS Prize

Winner:  Kit Young Tham , Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore

Second Prize:  Kevin Hao, Knox Grammar School, Australia

Third Prize:   Zhong Yang M. Yeh, Shanghai High School International Division, China

PHILOSOPHY Prize

Winner:    Hosei Kishida, Shanghai American School, China

Second Prize:  Amanda Sun, Princeton High School, USA

Third Prize:   Qianyu Lin , Raffles Institution, Singapore

POLITICS Prize

Winner:  William Zhou, Hunter College High School, USA

Second Prize:  Ziyi Wei, Westridge School for Girls, USA

Third Prize:   Xiaoya Du , The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, China

HISTORY Prize

Winner:    Yoo Jin Cho, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Australia

Second Prize:  Hannah Fareed, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan

Third Prize:   Quynh Anh La Le, Saigon South International School, Vietnam

Winner:  Youran Wu, Nanjing Foreign Language School British Columbia Academy, China

Second Prize:  Kayson Hu, Reddam House Sydney, Australia 

Equal Third Prize:  L ucienne Keyoung, Manhasset High School, USA

Equal Third Prize:  Esme Vallois-Davies, Colchester Royal Grammar School, UK

THEOLOGY Prize

Winner:    Hanyu Li, High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, China

Second Prize:  Shivraj Sharma, Neerja Modi School, India

Third Prize:   Scarlet Strogov, South Orange Middle School, USA

PSYCHOLOGY Prize

Winner:    Claire Yura Kim, Berkshire School, USA

Second Prize:  Arnav Pandey, The International School Bangalore, India 

Third Prize:   Hannah Kim, La Canada High School, USA

RECENT Essay Prize Winners

Grand Prize

Benjamin Who, The Hotchkiss School, USA

Winner: Selena Teng, Millburn High School, USA

Second Prize: Jinchuan Li, The Experimental High School attached   to Beijing Normal University, China

Third Prize: Vivian Li, Magdalen College School, UK

Winner: Pengzhe Lin, Cranbrook Schools, USA

Second Prize: Brandon Ma, Living Word Shanghai Bilingual School, China

Third Prize: Fengshuo Wang, Allendale Columbia School, USA

Winner:  Benjamin Who, The Hotchkiss School, USA

Second Prize: Ke Ren, Ulink Beijing, China

Third Prize: Yixi Zhang, Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, China

Winner: Yifan Liu, Independent Schools Foundation, Hong Kong

Second Prize: Xiaoyi Shi, Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to SISU, China

Third Prize: Chenrui Dai, Ruian High School International Department, China

Winner: Shahmeer Bukhari, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan

Second Prize : Sujeong Park, North London Collegiate School Jeju, Republic of South Korea

Third Prize: Samantha Shim, Phillips Academy, USA

Winner: Jonathan Pan, The King's School, Australia

Second Prize: Xinyue Zhu, Bard College at Simon's Rock, USA

Third Prize: Chloe Huang, Westminster School, UK

​Winner: Gabriel Stoney, Rugby School, UK

Second Prize: Yifei Chen, Wuxi Big Bridge Academy, China

Third Prize: Donghong Wei- Shenzhen College of International Education, China ​

Winner:   Cheuk Hei Chung, Chinese International School, Hong Kong

Second Prize: Teresa Yan, PS/MS 219 Paul Klapper, USA

Third Prize: Jia ning Zhang, Veritas Christian Academy, USA

Huaming Li, Xi’an Gaoxin No.1 High School, China

Winner: Austin Swaffer, Knox Grammar School, Australia

Second Prize: Chongwen Gu, YK Pao School, China​

Third Prize: Dana Song, Horace Mann, USA

Winner: Andre Pancholi, Latymer Upper School, UK

Second Prize: Yuhan Wang, Dunman High School, Singapore

Third Prize: Justin Chan, Harrow School, UK

Winner:  Marc Kadir, The Manchester Grammar School, UK

Second Prize: Arshiya Jain, Modern School Vasant Vihar, India

Third Prize: Alexander Chen, Archmere Academy, USA

Winner: Major Shokar, Aylesbury Grammar School, UK

Second Prize: Zoya Fasihuddin, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan

Third Prize: Stella Zhu, Northfield Mount Hermon, USA​

Winner: Eugene Choi, International School Manila, Philippines

Second Prize: InChan Yang, Winchester College, UK

Third Prize: Sarah Carr, Sidcot School, UK

Winner: Aiden Whitham, St. Paul's School, UK

Second Prize: Laura Koscielska, The Purcell School For Young Musicians, UK

Third Prize: Naciima Mohamed, Columbia Heights High School, USA

​Winner: Hao Tian, Beijing New Talent Academy, China

Second Prize: Huaming Li, Xi’an Gaoxin No.1 High School, China

Third Prize: Corey Koh, Raffles Institution, Singapore ​

Winner:  Joonyoung Heo, Pacific Cascade Middle School, USA

Second Prize: Stephanie Mo, Indian Mountain School, USA

Third Prize: Rena Kim, Menlo School, USA​​​

Ethan Christian Tan, Anglo-Chinese School, Singapore

Winner: Ethan Christian Tan, ACS (Independent), Singapore

Second Prize: Min-Jun Kang, Korea International School, Korea

Third Prize: Ali Haider, Wallington County Grammar School, UK

Winner: Helny Hobbs, Newstead Wood School, UK

Second Prize: Elizabeth Zhu, University of Toronto School, Canada

Third Prize: Calvin Xu, Appleby College, Canada

Winner:  Raphael Conte, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, UK

Second Prize: Saskia Poulter, The Tiffin Girls' School, UK

Third Prize: Jaimin Shah, King Edward VI Grammar School, UK

Winner: Runan Lin, Georgetown Preparatory School, USA

Second Prize: Christopher Conway, King's College School, UK

Equal Third Prize: Sungjin Park, Wellington College, UK and

                                  Megan Cui, Phillips Andover Academy, USA

Winner: Tianyi Jia, Princeton High School, USA

Second Prize: Henry Barker, Felsted School, UK

Third Prize: Jessica Na, Interlake High School, USA

Winner: Noah Buckle, Watford Grammar School for Boys, UK

Second Prize: Zheng Wei Lim, Raffles Institution, Singapore

Third Prize: Varun Venkatesh, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore

​Winner: Sirui Cai, Raffles Institution, Singapore

Second Prize: Junfang Zhang, Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore

Third Prize: Christopher Bong, ARCH Education, Hong Kong ​

Winner:  Jason Hausenloy, UWCSEA East Campus, Singapore

Second Prize: Anna Rantakari, Wellington College, UK

Third Prize: Alexander Fletcher, St Paul's School, UK

Luke Duthie, Germantown Academy, Pennsylvania, US

Winner: Younghoon Seo, Chadwick International School, South Korea

Second Prize: Jiajun Chung, Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Singapore

Third Prize: Maximilian Fawcett, St Paul's School, UK

Winner: Nayah Victoria Thu, Oslo International School, Norway

Second Prize: Daniel Craig-McFeely, St Paul's School, UK

Third Prize: Haritha Kumar, Cupertino High School, US

Winner:  Luke Duthie, Germantown Academy, US

Second Prize: Janusha Uthayakumar, Woodford County High School for Girls, UK

Third Prize: Harry Toube, City of London School, UK

Winner: Rosie Ashmore, Hagley Roman Catholic High School, UK

Second Prize: Mihira Philip, Sutton Grammar School, UK

Equal Third Prize: George Chadney, The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, UK

                                  Clemmie Read, St Paul's Girls' School, UK

Winner: Zikai Zhou, Xiaoshi High School, China

Second Prize: Claire Yoonsuh Kim, Chadwick International School, South Korea

Third Prize: Sophie Kelly, Millfield School, UK

Winner: Elijah Lee, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Singapore

Second Prize: Cindy Xin, Albany High School, US

Third Prize: Andrzej Karpiński, II High School In Poznan, Poland

​Winner: Judy Hyojoo Rhee, University Hill Secondary School, Canada

Second Prize: Jonathan Lee, Abingdon School, UK

Third Prize: Alexander Archer, Eton College, UK ​

Equal First Prize: Ethan Zhu, The King's School, Australia

                                Indigo Lee-Wilson, Ascham School, Australia

Third Prize: Jason Hausenloy, UWC South East Asia East Campus, Singapore​​​

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• Apply to YoungArts

National Arts Competition

YoungArts identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential, and invests in their lifelong creative freedom.

Are you a 15- to 18-year-old visual, literary, or performing artist based in the United States?

The 2025 YoungArts application closes on October 17, 2024 at 8 PM ET .

The YoungArts experience begins with the application.

For many young people, applying to YoungArts may be the first step in affirming “I am an artist.” YoungArts is one of the only organizations in the U.S. that supports artists across 10 disciplines at all stages of development, beginning with the critical moment when they decide to pursue a life in the arts, and continuing throughout their careers. 

Artists ages 15–18, or grades 10–12, in the U.S. are encouraged to apply in the discipline of their choice. All applications are judged by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process, and award winners are offered a lifetime of artistic support and ongoing connection with an extraordinarily robust network of peers and mentors.

YoungArts accepts applications in 10 disciplines:

How it works, artists apply, winners are chosen.

Award winners are selected through an adjudication process that includes multiple rounds of review. In each round, a national pool of artists review and evaluate materials within their respective specialties.  

Lifetime of Support

YoungArts award winners have ongoing access to the YoungArts Post , a private, online portal that allows artists to connect, share their work and discover fellowships, residencies, wellness resources, microgrants and additional financial support.

Programs & Benefits for Winners

Residency, exhibition and performance opportunities

Grants and funding

Professional development

A robust network of artists

Competition Winners

YoungArts award winners are the nation’s most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts.

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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

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Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

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The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

New York Public Library

Cullman center fellowships.

Fifteen fellowships are given annually to artists, academics, and creative writers, including poets, fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers, and translators, whose work...

Hackney Literary Awards

Novel contest.

A prize of $5,000 is given annually for an unpublished novel. Submit a manuscript of any length with a $30 entry fee by September 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines...

University of Mississippi

Willie morris award for southern nonfiction.

A prize of $12,000 is given annually for a book of nonfiction published during the current year that asks readers “to engage with or reflect on the complexities of the U.S....

Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction

A prize of $12,000 is given annually for a novel published during the current year that asks readers “to engage with or reflect on the complexities of the U.S. South.” The...

Nonfiction Contest for Emerging Writers

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for an essay by a writer who has not published a full-length book in any genre with a nationally...

University of Massachusetts Press

Juniper prizes.

Five prizes of $1,000 each and publication by University of Massachusetts Press are given annually for a debut poetry collection, a poetry collection by an author who has...

Dzanc Books

Short story collection prize.

A prize of $2,500 and publication by Dzanc Books is given annually for a story collection. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript...

Prize for Fiction

A prize of $5,000 and publication by Dzanc Books is given annually for a novel. Farah Ali, Chika Unigwe,...

Willie Morris Award for Southern Poetry

A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a single poem that evokes the U.S. South. The winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Oxford, Mississippi, for the awards...

Ghost Story

Supernatural fiction award.

A prize of $1,500 and publication on the Ghost Story website is given biannually for a short story with a supernatural or magical realist theme. The editors will judge....

PEN/Faulkner Foundation

Award for fiction.

A prize of $15,000 is given annually for a book of fiction published during the current year. Four finalists each receive $5,000. The winner and finalists will also be invited...

University of Iowa Press

Iowa short fiction award.

Two prizes of publication by University of Iowa Press are given annually for debut collections of short fiction. Submit a manuscript of at least 150 pages by September 30....

Lascaux Review

Prize in creative nonfiction.

A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Lascaux Review website is given annually for an essay. Previously published and unpublished essays are eligible. Using only the...

Connecticut Poetry Society

Vivian shipley poetry award.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Connecticut River Review and on the Connecticut Poetry Society website is given annually for a single poem. Aaron Caycedo-Kimura...

Poetry Prize

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Dzanc Books will be given for a poetry collection. Jonathan Fink and Keith Taylor will judge. Using only the online submission system,...

Texas Review Press: The University Press of SHSU

X. j. kennedy poetry prize.

A prize of $10,000, publication by Texas Review Press: The University Press of SHSU, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a...

California State University in Fresno

Philip levine prize for poetry.

A prize of $2,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to give a public reading at...

Poetry Contest

A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of $1,000 is also given. Mark Graham, Monique Jonath, Mridvi Khetan, and Ann Tinkham will judge....

Nature Writing Prize

A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,094) and online publication in Irish Times is given annually for a poem, a story, or an essay that features “an exploration of the...

George Garrett Fiction Prize

A prize of $2,000, publication by Texas Review Press: The University Press of SHSU, and 10 author copies is given annually for a short story collection or novel. Using only the...

Willow Springs Magazine

Surrealist poetry prize.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Willow Springs Magazine will be given annually for a surrealist poem. Melissa Kwasny will judge. Submit up to three poems totaling...

African Poetry Book Fund

Glenna luschei prize for african poetry.

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry by an African poet published in the previous year. Writers who were born in Africa, who are nationals or residents of...

Changes Press

Poetry book prize.

A prize of $10,000, publication by Changes Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. The winner will also receive an all-expenses-...

American Literary Review

Literary awards.

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in American Literary Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission...

A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Alaska Press will be given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. The 2024 prize will be given in...

Loudoun County student wins essay competition, scholarship and funds for elementary school's music program

by Sununu Bah

ASHBURN, Va. (7News) — A sixth-grade Brambleton Middle School student won an essay competition in the June 2023 issue of School Band and Orchestra Magazine.

Simone Rankin, who was selected as one of ten winners in the “music teacher who has changed your life” essay competition, wrote about her music teacher at Legacy Elementary School, Allison Kipp who has been teaching for 16 years.

SEE ALSO | High school grad scores jackpot on lottery gift from dad

“Ms. Kipp is so nice to everyone and understands her students,” Simone said. “She makes music fun, and her lessons always go so well.”

Simone will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and Legacy Elementary will receive $6,000 worth of musical equipment.

Simone has been playing the piano since she was four years old and will be playing the cello next year at Brambleton. She was a member of her school’s choir and the All County Chorus team.

She said she wants to use the scholarship to attend Harvard and study medicine. She said that she wants to develop vaccines that help people.

“Simone has changed the lives of the students that will now come after her,” Kipp said, when asked about the money won for the Legacy Elementary music program.

Legacy Elementary School Principal Kirsten O’Hara said that students deserve to have a music teacher like Kipp.

“Allison is always thinking about how to make music class better for her students,” O’Hara said.

O’Hara said the essay and the resulting recognition mean the world to her.

“Simone is an outstanding, kind and amazing student, and Allison is a wonderful teacher,” O’Hara added.

You can read Simone’s essay here .

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21st Annual SBO Essay Contest

“How has playing an instrument changed for you during the pandemic?” was the theme of SBO’s 21st annual scholarship essay contents. Nearly 2000 entries were submitted by students competing for ten, $1,000 scholarships. The awards are being given to five students in grades 4 to 8 and five students grades 9 to 12 and their respective school music programs received a matching award of music products from co-sponsors NAMM, Alfred Music Publishing, Sabian Ltd., and Yamaha Corporation of America.

Since its inception, the scholarship program has awarded $360,000 in funds and matching music products to the winners and their schools. The students and schools will be notified this month, and SBO will arrange for their local school music dealer to present their scholarship checks to the winners.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and we encourage all students to enter again next year.

Carson Quick

Grade 5 , Age 10

Instrument: Flute

Zionsville West Middle School | Zionsville, Indiana

This is my first time playing an instrument… Playing the flute is crazy, and confusing. This pandemic makes me feel like I am caged up, and alone. Being in a band makes me feel more together and included. It is just like the pandemic in ways, and very different than the pandemic in others. Flute, you are stressing, just like the pandemic. Flute, are you there? Flute, you make me calm. Flute, sometimes you are stressing and anger me. Flute, sometimes you are too hard. Sometimes I just want to quit. ‘Suddenly, I feel like one with my flute.’ Flute, where are you? Flute, I am going to be patent. Flute, I am waiting. Waiting while others are being taught. Thinking about my Flute, the bond with my Flute and me. Flute, I see you! Flute, why are you running? Flute, I’ve caught you! Flute, should I play you? Flute, let’s play “Hot Cross Buns” Flute, why not? Flute, are you sure? Flute, are you ready? Flute, I lost you again! Flute… I hear music coming from my flute, is that you? I can always feel calm and relaxed around you. Like I am in my own flute world. I spin away from the world, yet I am still playing my own instrument. Dancing in and out of the holes in my flute. Really, my fingers are the ones dancing. I remember the times with my flute… ~ I am playing with the group; My flute is there. I am sitting in PE; My flute is there. I am eating garlic dip; My flute is there. My flute has always been there for me. Always playing in my mind, playing solo, or with the rest of the band, my flute is there. ~Flute, I’ve found you again! I realized I have not only found my flute… but I have found myself as well. Playing a flute makes me speechless, and it ends my words.

Grade 4, Age 9

Margaret A. Neary Elementary School | Southborough, Mass.

In 4th grade at Neary school, students can sign up for band or string instruments. I chose flute because I like the sound that it makes. My teacher, Ms. Sherman, was so nice that she lent me a flute from the school. When I first started flute, it was hard because I’ve never met my teacher before. Also, it was difficult to start a new instrument during the pandemic because my teacher cannot see everything that I am doing over Zoom. At my first lesson, I learned three beginning notes: Bb, C, and D. Bb and C were a breeze, but D was very tricky. I couldn’t get the sound right at first. The problem was I didn’t hold the keys down hard enough. I kept trying and was elated when I finally got it. I learned perseverance and to never give up. At my second lesson, I was good at the note D, but a song called Snail Snail was not easy for me. It had eighth notes, and the notes didn’t sound right because I was playing too fast. Eventually, I figured out that I was rushing through the notes. I slowed down and was finally able to play the song. This taught me that I need to be patient to learn music. During the pandemic, everyone was quarantined and stuck in their house, but music helps to unite people together. Starting an instrument during this time has helped me learn perseverance and patience, which builds my character.

Meredith Lima

Grade 7, Age:12

Instrument: Alto Saxophone

St. Gabriel the Archangel | St. Louis, Missouri

Music is the universal language that all souls will connect to, even if it’s in different ways a language I am versed in that I have only recently begun to share with other ears freely. My instrument to speak this language is the alto saxophone which I’ve played for 3 years now with instruction, and as with anything I have to practice it outside of the initial activity itself. The dark & slightly dank basement of my house is where I practice — there’s a door near the general area where I practice and it leads to the backyard, which leads to the alley where people tend to walk by a lot. That door always used to be closed because I just wanted the melodic words to myself, being afraid of what would happen if people heard my somewhat faulty speaking. Not caring what people think is one of the hardest life lessons to learn; it is now one I would like to say that I have learned. Let them all condemn my flat-sounding notes if they so choose. Now when it’s not too hot or cold, I open the basement door and let the pitches I play tiptoe their way out into the world and the ears of the passersby, so that they may hopefully enjoy something extra that day. When I used to hoard, I now let it all go, neatly tumbling out. After all, in this pandemic we should share with the less fortunate what we can.

Grade 4, Age 8

Instrument: Piano

Playing an instrument has changed for me over the pandemic because it relieves me from this horrible time. I get a little stressed out from the many people that die and playing an instrument relieves me from the world. I have been playing the piano more than usual because it helps me. When I play piano I don’t think of anything else other than playing. Especially during this pandemic, I have been very stressed and sad of the many people that died Since I can’t be that social it gives me time to play, and I think of my piano as a friend. Many times, I would ask my parents when I could meet my friends but always got the same answer which I didn’t know. Whenever they said that I would play the piano and feel much better. It is amazing what music can do to you. I know I love it and my family does too. I encourage all to learn an instrument whether young or old because it will help you get through this horrible pandemic.

Grade 8, Age 14

I’ve been playing the guitar and piano for quite a while now, but I rarely practiced playing the piano or the guitar. I felt that practicing was a dull and tedious task, and I would only play my instruments once or twice a week three times at most. My parents would always nag me about this topic almost every single day, going on and on about how I barely touched the piano and the guitar and how it was such a waste. When the pandemic began to impact my state, everything changed within me in what felt like a couple of seconds. Everything was either cancelled or virtual. I was thrown into a whirlwind of confusion, stress, and boredom. With so much time on my hands and not much to do, I turned to music. Music became a way for me to cope with my feelings. Every time I played the piano, I felt like my fingers were flying across the keys, weaving stories filled with emotion and magic. Every time I plucked the guitar strings, I felt as if I was throwing stars into the night sky to twinkle like diamonds. As I started writing songs about my feelings and my thoughts, I started to see the joy and beauty that music produces, and the happiness it brought me. Through this experience, I discovered that music is an incredible, astonishing, and valuable gift that can help myself explore my creativity.

Dylan Flores

Grade 12, Age 17

Instrument: Percussion

Winston Churchill High School | San Antonio, Texas

Ever since joining the marching band freshman year, it has become a big part of my high school career. While practicing 12 hours a week was sometimes overwhelming along with my schoolwork, I still enjoyed playing on the drumline every Friday night on the football field during halftime. As a percussionist, I was required to learn a variety of different instruments and be able to excel at all of them. Even during the holidays, we were expected to come in and practice because most of the percussion students do not own the instruments we play, and because of the limited number of instruments, we could not take them home. In March of this year, when we were all sent home, we were just preparing for our next season. As a percussion student, the only way for me to practice at home is to drum with sticks and a drum pad. I could no longer practice any mallet instruments such as marimba and timpani, because I do not own these instruments and could not rent them. This led to finding alternative ways to continue practicing without having to go into school to practice. After finding the measurements, I found that I could construct a marimba out of cardboard. When it came to timpani, I figured out that using sticks to play on pillows creates a similar effect to timpani.

Instrument: Violin

North Broward Preparatory School | Coconut Creek, Florida

The violin is one of my life’s great joys. I’ve always loved how every performer adds their own personal interpretive touch to a given piece, throwing in technical virtuosity and passionate push-and-pull of the rhythms. To share this joy, since 6th grade, I’ve volunteered with the Florida Youth Orchestra (FYO), a group of over 400 students who perform at charity concerts to help the underprivileged access music. Due to COVID-19, our concerts are no longer possible. Additionally, many young musicians disproportionately affected by the pandemic can no longer take lessons. To address both of these issues, my friends and I co-founded FYOCares to give a free virtual music education to the less fortunate. Remote lessons have been a challenge because posture is one of most difficult aspects of music for beginners, and teaching it is greatly aided by physically helping students or demonstrating proper technique in-person. By funding instruments and lessons for those who cannot afford them, we have impacted dozens of students. During 2020, I’ve learned how to teach music when the crucial artistic medium of proximity is absent. Becoming extremely aware of everything I’m doing when guiding my students has also changed how I approach playing the violin, bringing out my personal flair when I perform. Additionally, I’ve realized just how much flexibility and ingenuity is required to virtually teach young students with different learning styles. The pandemic has taught me an important lesson about how creative all teachers dealing with COVID-19 have to be!

Emma Grimmius

Grade 12, Age 18

Instrument: Cello

Pine Lake Preparatory | Mooresville, North Carolina

Can I borrow your rosin?” “Wait, the stand is too far away for me to see.” “Scoot over.” My stand partner and I met in orchestra class, and although we often teased each other, there was a mutual respect for the other person’s talents and strengths. Now, from the empty rooms of my house, the silence sounds so loud in contrast to the bustling music room we once played in. As the sweet notes of my cello echo through the air, the memories come pouring back. I play Mozart, and I remember the day of my freshman year when the entire cello section scrambled over spilt coffee in the middle of a rehearsal. I play “The Monster Mash”, and I remember when my stand partner came to school dressed up for Halloween in a banana suit. I play “Carol of the Bells”, and I remember instruments screeching wildly out of tune due to the first cold day of the year as we laughed and cringed at the sounds. I am transported to the long walk up the stairs, I recall the strange smell as I enter our cramped classroom. I can see the mysterious stains on the carpeted floor, hear the laughter of the entire orchestra as we fumble through a sight reading piece. But I open my eyes, and I am alone again, in my empty house, bunkered down in fear of the pandemic. So, I play another piece, hoping it takes me back to before March 13th.

Caroline Gao

Grade 10, Age 15

West Albany High School | Albany, Oregon

Is this…how it’s supposed to look?” I asked the question through a flute face mask that encircled my head like a too-large tube top, leaving jowls of cobalt fabric pooled on my shoulders. As my fellow flutists turned to view my lopsided PPE, their eyes crinkled into smiles. Our band’s first sectional in eight months wasn’t the reunion I’d imagined, but I was still endlessly grateful to see my friends. It was a moment of light amidst a tumultuous, often lonely journey during the pandemic of rediscovering my relationship with playing the flute. The first few months of shutdown were hardest. Without performances and competitions, I struggled finding motivation to play. Days, even weeks, slipped between practice sessions. However, the time-sludge of COVID-19 also allowed me to reevaluate why I picked up an instrument in the first place: not just for showcasing skills and winning accolades, but also to create joy and refuge for myself. This new approach to my music prioritized what I needed over what others wanted. Sometimes, that meant replacing a soul-killing double-tonguing exercise with comfort songs like Ode to Joy. Other times, it meant letting myself skip a practice session when the weight of living felt overwhelming. Most of all, it meant finding the will to work tirelessly to create beauty even if no audience will ever hear it, because no matter how ugly the outside world is, the escape, hope, and healing I find in music can’t ever be taken away from me.

Noelle Treacy

Instrument: Trumpet

Benet Academy | Illinois

Playing an instrument has changed for me during the pandemic as band has become a family to lean on, not just a group I play music in. When my musical was shut down two shows in, our company still zoomed to talk and continue our close knit community, even when we could not meet in person. My band may not be able to play in person right now, but we still reach out to one another to keep good mental health during these trying times. When making music together was removed due to the pandemic, love and community persisted. Not even a pandemic could stop my music family from being together. Over Zoom, google meets, outside rehearsals, etc. we have grown closer over these months, even without music rehearsals to pull us together. As I approach the end of my high school years, I have been blessed with an amazing group of performers and directors. This pandemic shifted my mindset. This strong community was always there, but it was not until it was put through a test of separation, that I realized how wonderful and loving this community was. In conclusion, playing an instrument has changed for me during the pandemic as I realized the community I had found of musicians could withstand even pandemics and was really all about love and togetherness, not just playing music. Is not music at its core love and community? Thanks to the pandemic, it is clear to me that music is love.

August 2024

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• Writing Tips

7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

7-minute read

• 28th December 2022

Essay contests are not only a great way to exercise your essay-writing skills but also an awesome way to win cash prizes, scholarships, and internship or program opportunities. They also look wonderful on college applications as awards and achievements.

In this article, you’ll learn about 7 essay writing contests to enter in 2023. Watch the video below, or keep reading to learn more.

1. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 

Deadline: Now–April 30, 3023

Who may enter:

This is an international contest for people of all ages (except for residents of Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus due to US government restrictions).

Contest description:

●  The contest is organized by Winning Writers, located in MA, USA.

●  They accept stories and essays on any theme, up to 6,000 words each. This contest defines a story as any short work of fiction and an essay as any short work of nonfiction.

●  Your stories and essays must be submitted in English.

●  You may submit published or unpublished work.

Entry fee: USD 22 per entry

●  Story: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  Essay: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  10 Honorable Mentions will receive USD 300 each (any category).

●  The top 12 entries will be published online.

Official website

Please visit the competition’s official website for more information on judges and submissions.

2. 2023 Calibre Essay Prize 

Deadline: Now–January 15, 2023, 11:59 pm

Who may enter: All ages and any nationality or residency are accepted.

●  This contest is hosted by the Australian Book Review.

●  Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.

●  You may submit nonfiction essays of all kinds, e.g., personal, political, literary, or speculative.

●  You may enter multiple essays but will need to pay separate fees for each one.

●  Your essay must be unpublished.

Entry fee: AU 30 for non-members

Prize: AU 7,500

Official website:

For more information on this contest, please visit its official website.

3. John Locke Institute Essay Competition 

Deadline: June 30, 2023

●  Students from any country.

●  Students aged 15 to 18 years by the competition deadline.

●  Students aged 14 years or younger by the competition deadline are eligible for the Junior prize.

●  The contest is organized by the John Locke Institute.

●  Your essay cannot exceed 2,000 words.

●  There are seven subjects or categories for essay submissions: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law.

Entry fee: Free to enter

●  The best overall essay winner receives an honorary John Locke Fellowship, which comes with a USD 10,000 scholarship to attend one or more summer schools or gap year courses.

●  There is also a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category and the Junior category is a scholarship worth USD 2,000 toward the cost of a summer program.

●  All winning essays will be published on the Institute’s website.

For more information about this competition and the John Locke Institute, please visit the official website . Also, be sure to check out our article on all you need to know about this contest.

4. The American Foreign Service Association 2023 Essay Competition 

Deadline: April 3, 2023

●  Students in grades 9–12 in any of the 50 states, DC, the US territories, or if they are US citizens or lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

●  Students attending a public, private, or parochial school.

●  Home-schooled students.

●  Your essay should be 1,000–1,500 words.

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●  You will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country or region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.

●  Your essay should follow MLA guidelines.

●  Your essay should use a variety of sources.

●  The first-place winner receives USD 2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and their parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.

●  The runner-up receives USD 1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

Please visit the American Foreign Service website for more information.

5. The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) 2023 Essay Contest 

Deadline: Mid-February 2023–June 1, 2023

Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide.

●  The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals.

●  High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.

●  Undergraduate and graduate students should discuss at least two Austen novels of their choice.

●  Your essay must be in MLA format and 6 to 8 pages (not including your Works Cited page).

●  Your essay must be written in English.

●  First place wins a USD 1,000 scholarship.

●  Second place wins a USD 500 scholarship.

●  Third place wins a USD 250 scholarship.

●  Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit JASNA’s official website .

6. 2023 Writing Contest: Better Great Achievements by EngineerGirl

Deadline: February 1, 2023

●  Students in Grades 3–12. If international or homeschooled, please select your grade level based on if you were attending a public school in the U.S.

●  This contest is organized by EngineerGirl.

●  Students should write a piece that shows how female or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements.

●  You should choose one of the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century as a topic and explore the technologies developed in the last century and the new ones being developed today. Make sure to follow the specific guidelines for your grade level.

●  Essays should be 650–750 words based on your grade level.

●  Please visit the contest’s website to see specific requirements based on your grade.

Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:

●  First-place winners will be awarded USD 500.

●  Second-place entries will be awarded USD 250 .

●  Third-place entries will be awarded USD 100 .

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit the official website .

7. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Who may enter: Students enrolled in Grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools and home-study programs worldwide.

●  Your essay must address the following issue: In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?

●  Your essay should be 1,000 words.

Prizes: USD 500

For more information and submission requirements, please visit the contest’s official website.

Essay contests are a great way to expand your writing skills, discuss a topic that is important to you, and earn prize money and opportunities that will be great for you in the long term. Check out our articles on writing thesis statements, essay organization, and argumentative writing strategies to ensure you take first place every time.

If you need help with your essays and would like to make sure that every comma is in place, we will proofread your first 500 words for free !

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The 17 Best Writing Contests for High School Students

Other High School

If you're a writer—fiction, non-fiction, or fanfiction—you can put those skills to work for you. There are tons of writing contests for high school students, which can award everything from medals to cash prizes to scholarships if you win .

Not only will a little extra money, whether cash or scholarships, help you when it comes time to pay for college, but the prestige of a respected reward is also a great thing to include on your college application.

Read on to learn more about what writing contests for high school students there are, how to apply, and what you could win !

Writing Contests With Multiple Categories

Some high school contests accept entries in a variety of formats, including the standard fiction and non-fiction, but also things like screenwriting or visual art. Check out these contests with multiple categories:

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

• Award Amount: $1,000 to $12,500 scholarships
• Deadline: Varies between December and January, depending on your region
• Fee: $10 for single entry, $30 for portfolio

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards celebrate art by students in grades seven through twelve (age 13 or older) on a regional and national scale. These awards have a huge number of categories and styles, including cash prizes or scholarships for some distinguished award winners . Categories include science-fiction and fantasy writing, humor, critical essays, and dramatic scripts, among others.

Deadlines vary by region (but are mostly in December and January), so use Scholastic's Affiliate Partner search to find out when projects are due for your area.

Scholastic partners with other organizations to provide prizes to winners, so what you can win depends on what you enter and what competition level you reach. Gold medal portfolio winners can earn a $12,500 scholarship, and silver medal winners with distinction can earn a $2,000 scholarship , as well as many other options in different categories.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are open to private, public, or home-schooled students attending school in the US, Canada, or American schools in other countries. Students must be in grades seven through twelve to participate. Eligibility varies between regions, so consult Scholastic's Affiliate Partner search tool to figure out what applies to you .

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have a $10 entry fee for individual submissions and $30 for portfolio submissions, which may be waived for students in need . These fees may vary depending on location, so be sure to check your local guidelines .

Ocean Awareness Contest

• Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500
• Deadline: June 13, 2023 (submissions open in September)

The Ocean Awareness Contest asks students to consider the future of a coastal or marine species that is under threat from climate change. Submissions are accepted in a variety of art forms, but all must consider the way that climate change impacts ocean life .

Submissions for all categories, including art, creative writing, film, interactive and multimedia, music and dance, and poetry and spoken word are due in June, although the exact date varies slightly each year.

Winners may receive prizes of up to a $1,500 scholarship , depending on which division they fall into and what prize they win.

The contest is open to all international and US students between the ages of 11 and 18.

River of Words

• Award: Publication in the River of Words anthology
• Deadline: January 31, 2023

The River of Words contest asks students to consider watersheds—an area that drains into the same body of water—and how they connect with their local community. Students can explore this concept in art or poetry, with winners being published in the annual River of Words anthology .

Entries in all categories must be submitted by January 31, 2023. 

The River of Words contest is primarily for recognition and publication, as the website doesn't list any prize money . The contest includes specific awards for certain forms, such as poetry, some of which may have additional prizes .

The contest is open to International and US students from kindergarten to grade 12 (ages 5 through 19). Students who have graduated from high school but are not yet in college are also eligible.

Adroit Prizes

• Award Amount: $200 cash award
• Deadline: Typically April of each year

Sponsored by the Adroit Journal, the Adroit Prizes reward high school students and undergraduate students for producing exemplary fiction and poetry. Students may submit up to six poems or three works of prose (totaling 3,500 words) for consideration. Submissions typically open in spring .

Winners receive $200 and (along with runners-up) have their works published in the Adroit Journal . Finalists and runners-up receive a copy of their judge's latest published work.

The contest is open to secondary and undergraduate students, including international students and those who have graduated early . The Adroit Prizes has a non-refundable fee of $15, which can be waived.

YoungArts Competition

• Award Amount: Up to $10,000 cash awards
• Deadline: October 15, 2022; application for 2024 opens June 2023

Open to students in a variety of disciplines, including visual arts, writing, and music, the YoungArts competition asks students to submit a portfolio of work. Additional requirements may apply depending on what artistic discipline you're in .

Winners can receive up to $10,000 in cash as well as professional development help, mentorship, and other educational rewards.

Applicants must be 15- to 18-year-old US citizens or permanent residents (including green card holders) or in grades 10 through 12 at the time of submission . There is a $35 submission fee, which can be waived.

Fiction Writing Contests for High School Students

Many contests with multiple categories accept fiction submissions, so also check out the above contests if you're looking for places to submit original prose.

EngineerGirl Writing Contest

• Award Amount: $100 - $500 cash prize
• Deadline: February 1, 2023

This year's EngineerGirl Writing Contest asks students (though the name of the organization is "EngineerGirl," students of any gender may participate) to submit a piece of writing that shows how female and/or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements. Word counts vary depending on grade level.

At every grade level, first-place winners will receive $500, second-place winners will receive $250, and third-place winners will receive $100 . Winning entries and honorable mentions will also be published on the EngineerGirl website.

Students of any gender from third to 12th grade may submit to this contest. Home-schooled and international students are also eligible.

Nonfiction Contests for High School Students

Like fiction, non-fiction is often also accepted in contests with multiple categories. However, there are quite a few contests accepting only non-fiction essays as well.

The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest

• Award Amount: $1,250 to $2,500
• Deadline: April 3, 2023

The American Foreign Services Association sponsors a high school essay contest tasking students with selecting a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe, in 1,500 words or less, how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals in this country/region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years .

One winner will receive $2,500 as well as a Washington D.C. trip and a scholarship to attend Semester at Sea . One runner-up receives $1,250 and a scholarship to attend the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference.

Entries must be from US students in grade nine through 12, including students in the District of Columbia, US territories, or US citizens attending school abroad, including home-schooled students.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest

• Award Amount: $100 - $10,000
• Deadline: January 13, 2023

The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage contest tasks students with writing an essay between 700 and 1,000 words on an act of political courage by a US elected official serving during or after 1917 , inspired by John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage . Each essay should cover the act itself as well as any obstacles or risks the subject faced in achieving their act of courage. Essays must not cover figures previously covered in the contest, and should also not cover John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, or Edward M. Kennedy.

One first-place winner will receive $10,000, one second-place winner will receive $3,000, five finalists will receive $1,000 each, and eight semi-finalists will win $100 each.

The contest is open to students in grades nine through 12 who are residents of the United States attending public, private, parochial, or home schools . Students under the age of 20 in correspondence high school programs or GED programs, as well as students in US territories, Washington D.C., and students studying abroad, are also eligible.

SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

• Award Amount: $300 - $1,000 scholarships
• Deadline: February 19, 2023 (submissions open in November)

The SPJ/JEA high school essay contest , organized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association, asks students to  analyze the importance of independent media to our lives (as of now, the official essay topic for spring 2023 is TBD) . Essays should be from 300 to 500 words.

A $1,000 scholarship is given to a first-place winner, $500 to second-place, and $300 to third-place.

The contest is open to public, private, and home-schooled students of the United States in grades 9-12 .

Playwriting Contests for High School Students

For those who love the stage, playwriting contests are a great option. An original play can earn you great rewards thanks to any of these contests!

VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition

• Award: Participation in professional development activities at the Kennedy Center
• Deadline: January 4, 2023 (Application opens in October)

The VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition asks students with disabilities to submit a ten-minute script exploring their personal experiences, including the disability experience . Scripts may be realistic, fictional, or abstract, and may include plays, screenplays, or musical theater.

All entries are due in January. Scripts may be collaborative or written by individuals, but must include at least one person with a disability as part of the group .

One winner or group of winners will be selected as participants in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Winners will have access to professional assistance in developing their script as well as workshops and networking opportunities.

This contest is open to US and international students in ages 14 to 18 . Groups of up to five members may collaborate on an essay, but at least one of those students must have a disability.

Worldwide Plays Festival Competition

• Award: Professional production in New York
• Deadline: March (official 2023 deadline TBD)

In the Worldwide Plays Festival Competition , students from around the world can submit an eight-minute script for a play set in a part of a neighborhood —specifically, at a convenience store, outside a character's front door, or at a place where people convene. Each play must have roles for three actors, should not have a narrator who isn't also a character, and should not contain set changes.

Entries are due in February. Winners will have their play produced by professionals at an off-Broadway New York theater . Scholarships are also available for winners.

Any student, including US and international, in first through 12th grade may submit work for consideration.

• Award Amount: $50 - $200 cash prize
• Deadline: 2023 deadline TBD (application opens January 2023)

Students may submit a one-act, non-musical play of at least ten pages to YouthPLAYS for consideration . Plays should be appropriate for high school audiences and contain at least two characters, with one or more of those characters being youths in age-appropriate roles. Large casts with multiple female roles are encouraged.

One winner will receive $250, have their play published by YouthPLAYS, and receive a copy of Great Dialog , a program for writing dialog. One runner up will receive $100 and a copy of Great Dialog.

Students must be under the age of 19, and plays must be the work of a single author.

The Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest

• Deadline: Spring of each year

Students in grade 11 may submit a ten-minute play for consideration for the Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest . Plays should be 10 pages long, equivalent to 10 minutes.

One first-prize winner will receive $500, one second-prize winner will receive $250, and one third-prize will receive $100.

All entries must be from students in the 11th grade .

Poetry Writing Contests for High School Students

For those who prefer a little free verse or the constraints of a haiku, there are plenty of poetry-specific contests, too.

Creative Communications Poetry Contest

• Award Amount: $25
• Deadline: December

Students in ninth grade or below may submit any poem of 21 lines or less (not counting spaces between stanzas) for consideration in the Creative Communications Poetry Contest .

Students may win $25, a free book, and school supplies for their teacher .

Public, private, or home-schooled US students (including those in detention centers) in kindergarten through ninth grade may enter.

Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize

• Award Amount: $500-$1500
• Deadline: November 

Students in 11th grade may submit up to three poems for consideration in the Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize . Submissions are due in November .

One first-prize winner will receive $1500, one second-prize winner will receive $750, and a third-prize winner will receive $500. Poems may be published on arts.princeton.edu. All entrants must be in the 11th grade.

Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

• Award Amount: $500 - $5,000 renewable scholarship, $350 cash prize
• Deadline: October 31, 2022

Women poets who are sophomores or juniors in high school may submit two poems for consideration for the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest .

One first-place winner will receive a $350 cash prize, publication in and ten copies of Cargoes , Hollins' student magazine, as well as a renewable scholarship of up to $5,000 for Hollins and free tuition and housing for the Hollinsummer creative writing program. One second-place winner will receive publication in and two copies of Cargoes, a renewable scholarship to Hollins of up to $1,000, and a $500 scholarship to attend Hollinsummer.

Applicants must be female students in their sophomore or junior year of high school .

What's Next?

If you're looking for more money opportunities for college , there are plenty of scholarships out there— including some pretty weird ones .

For those who've been buffing up their test scores , there are tons of scholarships , some in the thousands of dollars.

If you're tired of writing essays and applying for scholarships, consider some of these colleges that offer complete financial aid packages .

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Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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2023 Essay Contest

Winning entries.

Topic: Marriages and Proposals

In   Pride and Prejudice   and Jane Austen's other novels, we see proposals and marriages that are motivated by love, as well as those that are better described as arranged marriages or marriages of convenience. Many cultures today also expect arranged marriages. Students were asked to compare and discuss the different types of marriages or courtships found in the novels, whether those relationships are new or longstanding.

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HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION

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Jessica T. Liu

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“What Are Men to Rocks and Mountains?” Examining Environment in the Proposals and Courtships of Pride and Prejudice

Almila Dükel

“In the Quest For Some Amusement”: The Role of Card Games, Dancing, and Walks as Precursors, Metaphors, and Measurements of Compatibility in Pride and Prejudice

Nisha Ramakrishnan

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY DIVISION

Love, convenience, and the pursuit of happiness for austen’s spinsters.

Kiri L. Kenman

“An Active, Useful Sort of Person”: Mr. Bennet, Charlotte Lucas, and Want of Sense in a Marriage Partner

Emily K. Aycrigg

Passion Mired in Pragmatism: The “Maneuvering Business” of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park

Rylee C. Thomas

GRADUATE SCHOOL DIVISION

The relationship road to self-awareness.

Katherine Tencza

Growing into Love: A Comparison of Adolescent Marriage in Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility

Linne E. Marsh

Character, Contemplation, and Counteraction: Jane Austen’s Three Keys to Extraordinary Marriages

Amy R. Eversole

ESSAY CONTEST COMMITTEE

Meg Levin, Chair Carol Moss

ESSAY CONTEST JUDGES

Essay Contest Winning Entries

About jasna.

The Jane Austen Society of North America is dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of Jane Austen and her writing. JASNA is a nonprofit organization, staffed by volunteers, whose mission is to foster among the widest number of readers the study, appreciation, and understanding of Jane Austen’s works, her life, and her genius.  We have over 5,000 members of all ages and from diverse walks of life. Although most live in the United States or Canada, we also have members in more than a dozen other countries.

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• Dec 14, 2023

QCEC Winners' Week 2023

In November, Shreeya, Siddhi, Kong and Mitali, the winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023, were invited to London for Winners’ Week, a programme of cultural and educational activities, designed to highlight the range of opportunities and industries which creative writing can open the door. This year, Winners’ Week was full of exciting activities and memorable experiences for our winners, who left London full of gratitude, new ideas and enhanced motivation to pursue their dreams. 

Winners’ Week began with a fascinating writing workshop at the Mulberry School of Girls held by award-winning British Pakistani poet Imtiaz Dharker. Imtiaz prompted our winners to consider the theme of freedom, culminating in a wonderful poem by each student that was shared with the class. This exercise facilitated confidence and collaboration, leading our winners to make friends with the schoolgirls who were also involved in the activity and encouraged cultural exchange.

This was followed by the winners joining the Speaker of the House of Commons, The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, for lunch in Speaker’s House, and meeting his cat Attlee! After a discussion with Mr Speaker, the winners were then given an exclusive tour of the Houses of Parliament, which included an opportunity to watch the Speaker’s Procession, followed by observing a live debate in the House of Commons.

Photo Credit: UK Parliament

The day ended with a tour of Bloomsbury – as fans of Harry Potter, they relished the opportunity to discover where it all started! Here, they learned about the processes that go into publishing books from Publishing Director Jayne Parsons. Our winners learned a lot from this exchange, and Junior Runner-up Mitali noted:

 “One thing I learnt from her is how an editor can give you fresh perspective and honest feedback. I will be more open to feedback and criticism regarding my work in the future.”

On Tuesday, the winners woke up early to travel to Stratford-upon-Avon for all things Shakespeare: they visited his birthplace and grave and learned about Shakespearean music. It was a day full of culture and fun. Our wonderful guide, The Rev Dr Paul Edmonson (Chair of the QCEC Junior Judging Panel), steered us through the streets of the old town and explained the history behind its’ famous churches and monuments. It was a memorable day. In Junior Runner-up Mitali’s own words:

“You truly need to be there and walk down the streets that Shakespeare once walked to feel the magic of the little town.”

On Wednesday, winners experienced a bespoke tour of Westminster Abbey, where our guide was swayed by the passion of our winners. Former Prime Ministers and the lesser-known figures memorialised and buried at the Abbey were highlighted – especially those with links to the Commonwealth. The winners thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the Abbey and seeing their favourite writers like Charles Dickens memorialised. Senior Winner Siddhi noted:

“The historical site I enjoyed the most was Westminster Abbey - especially Poet’s Corner. To be in the presence of the poets I admire so much was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I hope to visit it again in the future, and the Abbey will definitely serve as an inspiration in my future writing.”

Following this, the winners were graced with the wisdom and knowledge of Doug Wills, Editor Emeritus and his team at the London Evening Standard. The afternoon gave the winners the opportunity to tour the newsroom and engage in a discussion with Doug and his team about multimedia and the opportunities it presents, sowing seeds of inspiration in our budding writers. This was followed by the group enjoying sunset views above the BBC Broadcasting House as they recorded their winning pieces with experienced producers. The day ended with the group taking a trip to Cambridge Theatre to watch Matilda, the Musical . 

On Thursday morning, the winners had the opportunity to share their essays and engage in interesting conversations with the High Commissioners of India and Malaysia at their respective High Commissions. 

At last, it was time for the moment the winners had all been waiting for: their Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace with Her Majesty The Queen! RCS Ambassador Gyles Brandreth acted as compère for the Ceremony, during which The Queen and the RCS Executive Chair, Dr Linda Yueh CBE, spoke about the importance of the competition to elevate the voices of young people around the Commonwealth. 

The winners were awarded their certificates by Her Majesty, and extracts from their winning pieces were read by RCS Ambassador Ayesha Dharker, actors Dame Joanna Lumley DBE, Meera Syal CBE, Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE and Booker Prize winner Sir Ben Okri OBE.

View the full photo gallery for the Award Ceremony.

 The Award Ceremony was also centre stage for the launch of a new digital literacy initiative, Write Around the World , developed in partnership with the Royal Society of Literature.

Winners’ Week concluded with a special reception celebrating 140 years of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Held at the House of Lords and hosted by Lord Gadhia, we were pleased to be joined by current and former winners of the competition, members of the diplomatic corps and competition supporters for the launch of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition: 140 Years of Excellence , a commemorative publication published by Bloomsbury to celebrate this unique Commonwealth writing competition.

During the reception, guests heard from Lord Gadhia, Dr Linda Yueh CBE, Dr Stephen Gichuhi (1982 competition winner from Kenya) and His Excellency the Governor of Lagos State about the important role literacy plays.

This was a wonderful opportunity for past and present winners to engage and enjoy a leisurely evening before heading back home. 

Congratulations again to this year’s winners, to everyone who entered and to all those who judged and supported the competition. We look forward to launching the next competition in March 2024!

• QCEC Winners

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Launch of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 – ‘Our Common Wealth’

The Challenge

The Challenge is simple. First, you write your own composition for small ensemble (2 to 6 instruments) or full orchestra. Then, a panel of judges chooses the top three orchestral and top three ensemble compositions to be performed and recorded by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the NYCC Composium held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - Steinmetz Hall in Orlando, Florida.

At the Composium, each winning orchestral composer will be awarded $1000 and each winning ensemble composer will be awarded $500.

PLUS! Each winner will receive a professional recording of their composition.

2023 Finalists

Each year the National Young Composers Challenge receives a large number of submissions from every corner of the United States. The sophistication and quality of the scores has continued to grow each year. Because of the difficulty of picking only a few winners in each category, the judges also announce the list of finalists from which the winning scores will be selected. Each one of these composers deserves recognition as a winner, but unfortunately only a few scores can be selected from the finalists as winners.

To view the list of 2023 finalists, click here .

2022 Honorable Mention

The judges would like to recognize one composition that came close to being selected as a winner and deserves an Honorable Mention.

Full Orchestra

Tactical Warfare - Omarion Foster - Columbus, GA - age 14

2023 Winners

The winners of the 2023 NYCC challege are listed below in alphabetical order.

Preservation of Adolescence - Fabian Leung - Murphy, TX - age 17

Photon - Cyrano Rosentrater - Philadelphia, PA - age 16

Our Last Cascading Hour - Linda-Joy Shishan - Orlando, FL - age 18

Scherzo for Orchestra - Dylan Hall - Albany, CA - age 15

Forever in the Wind - Hudson Holland - Cape Coral, FL - age 16

David, Movement II - Bakhari Nokuri - Dayton, MD - age 18

If you have a question regarding the National Young Composers Challenge, you can contact us at mail@ followed by YoungComposersChallenge.org .

The National Young Composers Challenge is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization supported by grants and in-kind donations from the University of Central Florida , Rollins College , Full Sail University , Timucua Arts Foundation , and the Goldman Charitable Foundation .

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2023 GUIDE TO TOP COMPETITIONS

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stages open to all current full-time registered students in an undergraduate architecture degree program, undergraduates majoring in architecture, or diploma students in accredited schools of architecture worldwide. 35,000USD Purse.     but graduate before the awards are scheduled to be given. Two students (maximum) who meet the eligibility requirements above may collaborate as authors. An architecture student may team up with another undergraduate in architecture, landscape architecture, urban studies, arts and humanities, the social sciences, or engineering. If two students collaborate, then both names must appear on their essay and if awarded a prize, the prize is to be equally shared. The photographs should be digital at a minimum 500 pixels wide, and in .jpg format. The images should be as informative as possible in order to enable those reading the sbmissions to determine how well you have described your subject matter. The Readers are instructed NOT to add or detract points from their evaluation because of the quality of the photograph itself. Judging for the essay competition is on a numeric system. The members of the BERKELEY PRIZE Committee are asked to evaluate each Proposal in terms of the following criteria: Each criterion is given a score of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). The top approximately 25 scoring Proposals become Semifinalists. There is a total prize of 35,000USD, minimum 8,500USD first prize. The remaining purse is to be allocated among a minimum of the next three high scoring essays. Launch of 2023 Essay Competition. (Stage One) 500-word essay Proposal due. Essay Semifinalists announced. (Stage Two) Essay Semifinalists' 2,500-word essays due. Launch of Travel Fellowship Competition for Essay Semifinalists. Travel Fellowship entries due. Essay winners and Travel Fellows announced.     By submitting your essay, you give the BERKELEY PRIZE the nonexclusive, perpetual right to reproduce the essay or any part of the essay, in any and all media at the BERKELEY PRIZE’s discretion.  A “nonexclusive” right means you are not restricted from publishing your paper elsewhere if you use the following attribution that must appear in that new placement: “First submitted to and/or published by the Berkeley Undergraduate Prize for Architectural Design Excellence ( www.BerkeleyPrize.org ) in competition year 20(--) (and if applicable) and winner of that year’s (First, Second, Third…) Essay prize.” Finally, you warrant the essay does not violate any intellectual property rights of others and indemnify the BERKELEY PRIZE against any costs, loss, or expense arising out of a violation of this warranty. Registration and Submission You will be asked to complete a short registration form which will not be seen by members of the BERKELEY PRIZE Committee or Jury. REGISTER HERE. Additional Help and Information 407 COMMENTS 2023 Essay Contest Now Open! For the first time ever, the SBO+ Essay Contest is open to instrumental and vocal students across the USA! With the generous support of the NAMM Foundation, Alfred, MakeMusic, Hal Leonard, Yamaha, Casio, Focusrite and Adam Audio, we are again offering massive prizes for the music educator who has a student with a winning entry, and $1000.00 cash to each of ten students who submitted a winning ... 2023 SBO+ Essay Contest Winners « SBO+ Thomas Palmatier • Essay ContestJune 2023 • June 11, 2023. Corporation of America, Hal Leonard, NAMM Foundation, Focusrite and Adam Audio. This year, we asked essayists to answer this question: "Tell us about a music teacher who has changed your life. 2023 Essay Contest 2023 Essay Contest. Open to Students in ANY type of public or private k-12 school instrumental or vocal program… orchestra, symphony, jazz band, mariachi, wind band, marching band, concert band, modern band, choir, show choir, performing arts choral programs, musical theater performer (instrumental or vocal performance required) and literally ... Scholarships The deadline for the 23rd annual essay contest is March 31, 2024, 10PM CT. ... Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition. Grand Teton Music Festival Annual Scholarship Competition. ... Award winnings will be made payable to the educational institution of scholarship winners in January 2023. Apply now. Read More. CMEA/Acme 2023 Essay Competition Winners The winners of the 2023 competition are: DR. FRANKLIN CHURCHLEY GRADUATE ESSAY COMPETITION: FIRST PLACE: DIANE MURRAY-CHARRETT - UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Essay Title: Dragonfly on My Shoulder: Transformation in Music Education Faculty Advisor: Dr. Lori-Ann Dolloff. KENNETH BRAY UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY COMPETITION: The Big List of Student Writing Contests for 2023-2024 4. American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest. If you're looking to help students take a deep dive into international relations, history, and writing, look no further than this essay contest. Winners receive a voyage with the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, DC. CFMTA National Essay Competition The high school level will not be awarded this year. CFMTA is pleased to congratulate the winners of the 2024 National Essay Competition. University Doctoral Level / Niveau universitaire doctoral. 1 st place ($1000.00) Sponsored by CFMTA/FCAPM in honor of founder and major donor, Dr. Lorna Wanzel. Changchun Du, McGill University Schulich School ... Oxford and Cambridge Essay Competitions This essay competition is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and showcase their independent study and writing skills. Unfortunately, for external reasons, the essay won't be running in 2023, but may well be running in 2024 so do keep an eye out so you don't miss it! Sample Essay Questions from 2020. Competition Results 2023 Essay Prize Winners Special congratulations to those who achieved a Distinction or High Distinction in this year's competition. Those who did so but did not attend the prize-giving ceremony will be contacted by email, providing access to their eCertificates by the end of the month . National Arts Competition YoungArts is one of the only organizations in the U.S. that supports artists across 10 disciplines at all stages of development, beginning with the critical moment when they decide to pursue a life in the arts, and continuing throughout their careers. Artists ages 15-18, or grades 10-12, in the U.S. are encouraged to apply in the discipline ... Writing Contests, Grants & Awards September/October 2024 Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we've published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests ... Loudoun County student wins essay competition, scholarship and ... Simone Rankin wins essay competition in the June 2023 issue of School Band and Orchestra Magazine for her essay on her Legacy Elementary School music teacher, Allison Kipp. Home Awards Discover how entering the Scholastic Awards opens the door for recognition, scholarships, and more. Programs Exhibitions and workshop for teens, professional development for educators. Support Empower creative teens and elevate youth voices with your support. Scholastic Awards News. Award-Winning Works. 21st Annual SBO Essay Contest « SBO+ SBO Staff • FeaturesMay 2021 • May 4, 2021. [socialpug_share] "How has playing an instrument changed for you during the pandemic?" was the theme of SBO's 21st annual scholarship essay contents. Nearly 2000 entries were submitted by students competing for ten, $1,000 scholarships. The awards are being given to five students in grades 4 ... 7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023 Deadline: Mid-February 2023-June 1, 2023. Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide. Contest description: The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals. High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works. The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition provides a platform for young, ambitious high school students to exercise their writing skills and compete with students from all over the world! This competition encourages students to challenge themselves and explore different writing styles to ultimately strengthen their writing skills. The Queen'S Commonwealth Essay Competition The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world's oldest international writing competition for schools, proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. Find out more about the competition and how to enter. ... In 2023 we were delighted to receive a record-breaking 34,924 entries, with winners from India and Malaysia ... The 17 Best Writing Contests for High School Students YoungArts Competition. Award Amount: Up to $10,000 cash awards. Deadline: October 15, 2022; application for 2024 opens June 2023. Fee: $35. Open to students in a variety of disciplines, including visual arts, writing, and music, the YoungArts competition asks students to submit a portfolio of work. 2023 Essay Contest Winning Entries. Topic: Marriages and Proposals. In Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen's other novels, we see proposals and marriages that are motivated by love, as well as those that are better described as arranged marriages or marriages of convenience. Many cultures today also expect arranged marriages. QCEC Winners' Week 2023 QCEC Winners' Week 2023. In November, Shreeya, Siddhi, Kong and Mitali, the winners of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023, were invited to London for Winners' Week, a programme of cultural and educational activities, designed to highlight the range of opportunities and industries which creative writing can open the door. National Young Composers Challenge 2023 Finalists. Each year the National Young Composers Challenge receives a large number of submissions from every corner of the United States. The sophistication and quality of the scores has continued to grow each year. Because of the difficulty of picking only a few winners in each category, the judges also announce the list of finalists ... 2023 GUIDE TO TOP COMPETITIONS 2023 GUIDE TO TOP COMPETITIONS. The 2023 Guide. 100 Top Competitions. We've gathered the many interlocking pieces of any competition—application deadlines, eligibility rules, artistic disciplines, frequency, dates, fees, jury members—to present our largest Guide to Top Competitions. On a technical note, you'll see that many dates in the ... Berkeley Prize Essay Competition Purse. There is a total prize of 35,000USD, minimum 8,500USD first prize. The remaining purse is to be allocated among a minimum of the next three high scoring essays. Calendar. September 15, 2022. Launch of 2023 Essay Competition. November 1, 2022. (Stage One) 500-word essay Proposal due. Mid-December, 2022. essay homework paper phd project resume review speech study thesis