Berklee Sponsors Teen Song Contest

Vanessa Carlton and *NSYNC will judge songs in the Teen category of the International Songwriting Competition.

August 27, 2003

 
Guitarist Pat Metheny, who is one of the contest judges, gives a clinic during a recent visit to Berklee.
Farnsworth/Blalock Photos
 
Berklee has just given young songwriters another reason to participate in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). For the first time, Berklee has joined the list of ISC sponsors and will give away a full-tuition scholarship to the 2004 Five-Week Summer Performance Program. The tuition scholarship to the summer program goes to the winner for Best Song in the Teen category.

The Teen category is one of several new categories added to the ISC this year, and will be judged by Vanessa Carlton,
*NSYNC, and other industry professionals from the ISC list of judges. Competing songwriters must be 18 years old or younger by September 15, 2003. There will be two overall winners in the Teen category, one for Best Song and one for Best Lyrics.

This is the second year of operation for the ISC, and its creators also founded the Boston Music Awards and the NEMO Music Showcase and Conference, which have been in existence for 15 years and 7 years, respectively. The contest will offer 68 prizes in 13 categories, totaling more than $100,000 overall in cash and prizes.

The contest deadline is September 15, 2003. Songwriters may submit their entries online or via email.

In addition to the Teen category, the ISC features 12 other categories:

  • Pop/Top 40
  • Rock
  • Country
  • AAA/Roots/Americana
  • R&B/Hip-Hop
  • Blues
  • Folk/Singer-Songwriter
  • Jazz
  • World
  • Gospel/Christian
  • Dance/Electronica; and
  • Lyrics Only

ISC organizers say the competition is designed to promote excellence in the field of songwriting and provides a unique opportunity for songwriters to gain exposure and recognition. This year's competition features an impressive panel of judges, including Matchbox 20 lead singer Rob Thomas, bluesman B.B. King, guitarist Pat Metheny, Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine, gospel artist Bebe Winans, Gang Starr rapper and lyricist Guru, producer Nile Rodgers, producer Arif Mardin, and record executive Bruce Lundvall.




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