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Essay on “singing competition that i won” for students and children, best essay, paragraph, speech for class 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Singing Competition That I Won

In the hunt of a beautiful voice, our school hosted the seventh edition of ‘Golden Voice Competition’, on Annual Singing Day.

The students who wished to participate in the competition were sorted into three categories on the bases of age. The three categories were junior classes II to IV, intermediate from classes V to VII and senior classes from VIII to X. About 140 students had turned up for the elimination round out of which 15 were selected for the final round. I was one among the fifteen participants.

We had to cover songs that ranged from genres like Devotional, Classical, Pop, Sufi and Bollywood. I selected a devotional song. In order to judge the event, our school had invited some of the eminent personalities from the world of music. Sugandhi Arun, singer and a performer was the chief guest for the event. Our school believes that music is an interesting opportunity for expressing creativity of children as it helps to stay tuned to life.

The competition started. The participants singing popular numbers mesmerised the audience and left them asking for more. With great confidence, I sang a devotional song. From junior’s group, Delzin Tata won many hearts with her chirpy-voiced version of `Ashaye’. This won her the top prize in her category. Sonam Mhaske and Heena Khan bagged top honours in the intermediate and senior groups respectively.

Finally, my name was announced as the winner of devotional category. I was awarded with the title of ‘gest Devotional Singer’ of the school. This day had turned out to be a memorable day of my school life. Many of my friends and teachers congratulated rile. I realized how my mother daily sat with me and helped me practice singing. Her efforts at home helped me to train myself for the competition. I realised that hard work of practicing singing helped me to succeed.

Linking music to general progress of the students, our Principal Roxana Ookajee said, “Music injects rhythm in an individual’s approach to life. It eliminates haphazardness and consequently produces amazing results in different walks of life.”

However, for me performing in front of family and friends was much tougher than performing before an unknown audience. The competition was a real test of a performer’s character.

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May 22, 2022 by [post_author_posts_link_outside_loop] Leave a Comment

How to Win a Singing Competition: 6 Effective Tips

I’ve not only been coaching singers for more than two decades, I have coached two world champion competitive singers as well as several national champions, state champions, and regional champions. Oh, and I’ve judged state, national, and international singing competitions. So, I thought I’d share with you some of my top tips for how to win a singing competition from my experiences on BOTH sides of the judging table.

These tips are the same ones I share with my clients who have won singing competitions, and they are the same ones I’ve seen carried out in singers I’ve judged who have won singing competitions.

How to Win a Singing Competition: Tip #1

Select songs that showcase your greatest strength.

I can’t tell you how many singers I’ve corrected who assume they have to show absolutely everything they are capable of doing in a competition. Singers often assume showing versatility is the best idea in a singing competition, however I find it puts singers at a huge disadvantage when it comes to scoring.

If you’re perplexed by my viewpoint, let’s imagine you want to get a tattoo and you are looking for the best tattoo artist. You find two to choose from. The first has been a tattoo artist since 2005, has tons of examples of beautifully designed tattoos on his website, and has a whole Yelp page of stellar reviews. The second tattoo artist has a cool website where you learn that in addition to being a tattoo artist, he’s also a personal chef to various local celebrities, and he works part-time as a dental hygienist.

Are you going to be more inclined to get inked by the guy whose skill is divided among three separate careers, or the guy who specializes in exactly what you want and has outstanding reviews to back it up? Chances are, the second tattoo artist is decent at tattoos, decent at cooking, and decent at dental hygiene, while the first guy isn’t just decent at tattoos, he’s proficient.

That’s what happens when you decide to showcase every skill you (think you) have in a competition. You have to be THE BEST at every skill you showcase in order for this plan to work.

Let’s say you are in a competition with 3 rounds and you decide you want to showcase your top skill which is emotional ballad singing in round one, then you want to show your ability to sing country music in round two, and your ability to sing in a foreign language in round 3.

Your stiffest competition is a gal whose forte is also singing emotional, heartfelt ballads which she plans to do in all three rounds. What this means is that in round one, you two might be neck and neck for the top position, but in the next two rounds, you are showcasing other things that aren’t your strong suit while your competition is showcasing more and more of her expertise at doing the thing she does best. In other words, you’ve just handed her the competition! I see this ALL. THE. TIME.

Singers decide in their minds that versatility will score them extra points. There are two major problems with that (false) assumption:

• That your judges will not only be the same in every round, but they will remember you and what you sang in the previous rounds enough to notice that you’re showing versatility.
• That your judges will also think that versatility deserves extra points EVEN THOUGH IT’S NOT PART OF THE JUDGING CRITERIA.

The third potential problem with this strategy of showing versatility is that your chances are very slim of being the very best at EVERYTHING you choose to show, which means each time you’re not the best, you’re handing the win to your competition.

My best advice for song selection in a competition is to identify what it is in your singing that you do the very best, and choose a song that showcases that strength in every single round.

Another hot tip: if your contest is scored cumulatively, always lead with your very best song in round one! Most singers will save their best song for the final round, but if there are eliminations between rounds, you may not get to the final round with this strategy. If you lead with your very best song, you are starting out with the highest amount of points possible, putting you ahead in the first round with less work to do moving forward.

Want help figuring out what the best songs for you are? Check out my free eBook, “Song Choice That Works.”

Song Choice That Works! How To Pick The Best Songs [FREE e-BOOK]

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription and download your freebie!

How to Win a Singing Competition: Tip #2

Take care of your voice & beef up your vocal ability.

You know what I hate hearing from competitive singers? Their limitations! I feel heartbroken when I hear singers saying things like, “I can’t sing that song because…(xyz excuse)”.

Your voice is capable of SO MUCH MORE than you’re likely giving it credit for. So much goes into a winning performance, but you HAVE to have the vocal skill to stand out. Even more important than that, though, is having the stamina to showcase your incredible vocal skill all the way through to the final note of the competition.

Every time I watch Hollywood Week on American Idol, I need to have the box of Kleenex handy because I know I’m going to start crying when my favorite singers start to lose their voices. I’m not just crying for their misfortune, I’m crying because their voice loss (and the public response to it) perpetuates the myth that voice loss is something to expect to happen when you sing for extended periods of time.I’ve developed a patent-pending vocal method that shows singers how to prevent voice loss and vocal fatigue for good.

The best part of this method is that while you learn all the steps for preventing voice loss and fatigue, you pick up incredible skill in the process which allows your voice to do anything you want with it. The most common feedback I receive is that after learning how to make voice loss a thing of the past, singers are blown away by what they are now capable of doing with their singing.

I do this work with my private and group clients, but I’ve also written a bestselling book outlining my method. I’d love to share a free excerpt from the book with you if you’re curious, which you can download below.

Read a Free Chapter of Never Lose Your Voice Again

How to Win a Singing Competition: Tip #3

Forget the costumes and props.

Please, for the love of all things holy and sacred, stop wearing costumes and using props. They are taking away from your performance, NOT adding to it. I promise you.

One time, I was judging a national singing competition where every genre known to man seemed to have been represented. One gal decided to sing a song from the musical, Les Miserables.

Now, I have a solid musical theatre background, but not one of the other judges at the table was familiar with this musical. Because she was singing a song sung by a poor woman, she decided to wear a very simple brown dress with no jewelry, she smeared makeup on her face that looked like mud, and she messed up her hair.

For some context, this particular competition awards points for your outfit/appearance and they place a high value on bling and sparkles. This gal sang the song BEAUTIFULLY, yet it was her lowest scoring song of the entire contest, and likely was the reason she didn’t make the finals.

Because the rest of the judges at the table were so distracted by her appearance, they spent the majority of her song trying to understand why she looked so disheveled. As a result, it was hard for them to even notice how beautifully she sang the song.

Even I docked her some points for how she showed up because – while it may have matched the feel of the musical – it didn’t make sense with a standalone performance of the song, which is what she gave us.I have had the same experience with props.

How many times have you seen a concert where the lead singer brought on stage some random prop to use in their performance??

I’ve never seen it happen. Not one single time. Yet I have lost count of the number of times I’ve watched or judged a singing competition and seen singers carry out a prop to use in their song. And here’s the thing: most of the time, the prop applies to a single lyric in the song, which means the singer has to hold the prop the entire song just so they can utilize it for that one single line. It’s distracting!

Once again, we judges find ourselves trying to make sense of what’s in your hand (and why it’s there) instead of paying attention to your performance. Your performance suddenly becomes about the rose you are holding in your hand rather than the emotion you are feeling about the person you are singing to.

So, instead of relying on costumes and props to tell your story, learn how to connect to the emotion of your song so YOU can tell the story with your voice, your passion, and your stage presence. This will allow your audiences (including your judges) to feel captivated by your performances instead of distracted by them.

Check out this free training series I did on emotionally connecting to your songs.

How to Win a Singing Competition: Tip #4

Move with purpose.

Unpopular competition opinion: I love a good “park and bark”. A lot of competitions have scoring for stage presence or even use of the stage. Unfortunately, this means a lot of confused singers take that to mean that they need to cover as much square footage on the stage as possible, which creates a day full of zombie-like movement all over the stage.I clearly have no patience for this.

If you don’t have a reason to move, either find a reason or don’t move at all.

Movement “because you think you should” is always awkward – for you AND for your audience. Pacing, wandering, walking in tempo, rehearsed movement that looks stiff, walking backwards, and shuffling or kicking your feet are all examples of movement that lacks purpose and looks uncomfortably awkward. They are also all examples of movement I see most frequently when judging competitions.

So what does it mean or look like to move with purpose?

Let’s talk about gestures before we get into footwork. When you talk, your hands and arms move around to help illustrate your story. Your hands might make a gesture to emphasize an emotion or the point of your story.

Please take note that this is not at all the same thing as playing charades where your hands and arms are trying to act out WORDS so others can guess the words correctly. I’m constantly surprised how often singers get these two things confused and find themselves “playing charades” while singing.

To avoid playing charades, start by speaking your lyrics as text – or by paraphrasing them in your own words. Say them to a real person and mean what you’re saying. Do your hands or arms move at all when you speak these words? The natural movements of your hands and arms when speaking are the same movements you should make when singing these words. Remember that they are movements you make to emphasize your point or your emotions. They should be as natural and organic as the movements you make when speaking.

So now, let’s talk footwork. I already mentioned most of the pitfalls singers face when trying to move around on stage. We said we avoid those by moving with purpose. So let’s talk about what that looks like when it comes to moving your whole body. First of all, you do not need to be a choreographer to have great stage presence. No one will be judging your dancing abilities in a singing competition, so there’s no need to come up with choreography. If you are a FABULOUS dancer and you WANT to dance, go for it. Otherwise… I wouldn’t.

A lot of times, singers feel less confident during instrumental breaks and decide they would be a great time to move around the stage. My #1 issue with this strategy is that it looks exactly how I described it. So, instead of looking like you’re lost or like you’re getting your steps in for the day in order to avoid the awkwardness of not singing for a few measures, try to not move during these times and instead show us the emotions you’re feeling.

To move across the stage with purpose, you must have or find a reason to move in order to prevent it from looking painfully awkward. Repeated lines or choruses are a great place to make a move because never in life do we speak the same exact text two times in a row without making some kind of adjustment to the way we say it the second time. Movement forward, for example, can look as though you are emphasizing your point and comes across as natural and logical when you are repeating a line or a chorus.

Sometimes, I advise singers to find someone in the audience on the other side of the stage that seems engaged in your performance and make eye contact and head their way. You can even point or acknowledge them somehow physically when you make your move in their direction. It shows your audience that someone is in agreement with you about what you’re singing about, which once again, looks natural and logical. You can imagine that you are singing to someone specific who turns around and walks away, giving you a reason to go after them. You can be singing about someone who is (or was) standing in a particular spot on the stage which can give you a reason to indicate the location and/or move in that direction. Is this starting to make sense?

The best example I have for singers of this in real life is, if you were in a room full of people and I were to tell you to get up from your chair and go into the next room, you might hesitate at first, looking around to see if anyone else is following my instruction, and then eventually get up and wander to the next room in confusion. But if I were to tell you your best friend is in the next room and she just caught her shirt on fire, you’d jump out of your chair and run into the next room to help her. In the first example, you are moving because you think you should – and you look awkward and lost in the process. In the second example, you have a reason to move – and you look intentional in your movement.

How to Win a Singing Competition: Tip #5

Challenge yourself to accept critique.

Singing is a vulnerable act, no doubt about it. And it’s normal to not be an absolute pro at it without any support. It can feel scary to open yourself up to the feedback of another person, but when it comes to preparing for a competition, I highly recommend it. But here’s the thing: BE CHOOSY about the support and feedback you ask for and accept.

Your mom, your spouse or s/o, and your best friend are amazing cheerleaders and often your biggest truth-tellers. However, unless they also happen to be professional singers, voice or performance coaches, or competition judges, their critique and feedback will most likely be nothing more than a second opinion. People who love you dearly will either be too afraid to hurt your feelings to tell you the truth, or they’ll be hyper-critical because they feel comfortable enough with you to be blunt.

Also, people who love you may have personal preferences about your performances because they are accustomed to hearing you. For these reasons, I don’t recommend seeking out these types of people for critique and feedback on your competition performances and practice.

Fellow competitors are another place singers often go, which I find completely mystifying. Your fellow competitors understand the rules of the game and have their own strategies as well, so they seem like they’d be a reliable source for constructive and useful critique and feedback… except for one major flaw: they are competing against you. No matter how much you may love each other, if you or your fellow competitor are vying for the winning title, and they think you may have a shot at taking it from them – or vice versa – it’s going to be very difficult to provide honest feedback or critique.

For this reason, I don’t recommend relying on this type of feedback or critique on your competition performances and practice.

My best recommendation is to seek the advice of a hired experienced voice and/or performance coach. This type of professional is capable of being unbiased AND knowledgeable about critiquing your skill in a useful manner. Also, a performance professional that has been hired to support you is just as invested in your success as you are, which means they will make sure you aren’t compromising your goals when things get challenging.

How to Win a Singing Competition: Tip #6

Visualize your win.

Most competitors go into competition with an “I hope I get it” mindset, completely unaware of how damaging this kind of thinking can be. Instead, get super clear about the win you desire to achieve, and decide what gets to happen two steps out. In other words, take your goal and identify what you get once you achieve it. Then, ask yourself what you get once you achieve THAT. This puts you envisioning your life two steps ahead of where you are. So, start living your life as if you’re already living the life of two steps ahead.

This does a couple of things:

• It removes a lot of the pressure to achieve because you are operating from a place of having already achieved it.
• It helps you perform that much better because you have nothing to prove.

My favorite example of this comes from my first World Champion singer, Mikko Blaze , who won the KWC World Championship in December of 2018.

When we first started working together in the summer of 2018, Mikko had never won anything but a state competition. He’d placed at the national level, but had never before won it. He wanted to win Nationals that year. I wanted him to win Worlds.

I asked him when and where the world competition was scheduled to happen. Assuming I’d misunderstood his goal of winning Nationals, he said, “Oh! No, I have to go to Nationals first!” I told him I knew that and he was still confused. I asked him how he gets to go to Worlds and he said (with a “duh!?” kind of expression and tone), “I have to win Nationals”. I said that was perfect and asked him my question again.

He was still confused but he answered my question. I told him I wanted him to tell his boss the next day that he needed to take those days off from work and that I wanted his partner to do the same thing if they wanted to both go to Worlds together. I told him to start looking into travel arrangements for his partner and to plan some fun activities they’d do during down time while abroad.

I could see his confusion growing so I asked him what he would want to happen when he wins Worlds. A dream-like expression came across his face and he told me he’d love to record an album of originals. I asked if that’s something he could do without winning Worlds and he said he couldn’t because he needed the money he’d win from the World competition in order to pay for the studio time.

So I told him I wanted him to focus his energy on recording that album. I asked him to start looking into studios, asking around about pricing and scheduling, and making sure he has the songs together that he’d want to record. I told him I wanted him to live his life as someone who is about to record his first album. His confusion was still written all over his face, so I explained myself. “If you can’t get to Worlds without winning Nationals, and you can’t record your album without winning Worlds, then if we focus our energy on recording your album, and live your life as if recording it is a done deal, then the other two things HAVE TO happen.”

And they did.

He won Nationals for his first time ever, went on to Worlds where he won the whole thing, and then recorded his album of original music.

He followed all the steps I advised him to take, all of which were pretty big risks that involved a lot of trust and decision on his part. But by taking that action and deciding to live two steps ahead, he was able to achieve all three of his goals (and mine).

Do this for yourself. Identify what your two steps out life looks like and start living it as if it’s a done deal. Make the bold decisions supporting that life as reality and then reap the rewards of goals achieved.

If you want custom help with this, I’d love to discuss working together privately. You can visit  www.getmypowerup.com  to set up a time to chat with me about it.

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Katti Power is bar-none, hands-down, one of the very best voice teachers out there. I’ve been singing for 23 years, and have had several teachers over the years, from NYC to LA. Many of my teachers have been good, but I learned more in one lesson with Katti than I did several months with other teachers.

[Katti] is the best singing coach I've ever had. I love working with her because she's so supportive, she has such a great ear, and she can get to the heart of any of my problems right away. She's positive, very knowledgeable, and most of all - one of the biggest reasons I would highly recommend Katti is that she's a great human being.

I’m most excited to know the difference between legit and belt voice and practice choosing how to sing and speak intentionally in a way that is healthiest for me.

I’m singing songs I did not think I would ever be able to sing!

No joke, Katti Power is a complete and utter bad ass. She’ll turn you into one as well if you give her the chance.

I had the honor of working with Katti right before the Talent Quest National Competition. In only a few short lessons she had me miles above where I started out. Her methods help you stretch your range while keeping your vocal health. She continuously helped me get better each time we met.

Now that I have had that hour session I know how to overcome my straining and relax my throat when singing up high. The way Katti teaches, the illustrations she gives, and the exercises she uses help me to understand in a way I’d never thought about before…Knowing how quickly she fixed my problem, I feel extremely confident that she would be able to help anyone else…

I believe you can always improve your craft, so for the past few years I’ve been working with internationally acclaimed vocal teacher Katti Power.

I can sing higher again and I’m more confident in my belting abilities, as well as my breath support!

I’m really not sure where I would be without you. You have given me such confidence in so many areas and have given me the skills to take my performing to the next level.

Thank you so much for believing in me and for helping me become who I am today… You changed my life Katti.

Katti is an unforgettable voice instructor. I came to Katti when I was 18 years old because I wanted to improve my musical theatre sound. I had absolutely no clue how to belt before beginning [Unlimited Vocal Health™] and when I graduated from Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City four years later, I was the top belter in my class. The more lessons I took the more my confidence as a singer and an all around performer grew.

I use to think my voice just couldn’t sing certain notes in certain ways, but that is completely false! I wish I had known these techniques back when I was struggling and performing every day. And knowing how to sing in my uncomfortable areas without hurting my voice is amazing. I   feel like I could sing almost anything now!!

I feel like I finally learned the secret of singing I’ve been looking for all my life! I always felt like my teachers didn’t quite “get” my voice and there was something either I really wasn’t getting or they really were not teaching. Now I know what it is! Thank you Katti!!

Katti…helped me realize that my voice will always be there, and I just need to trust that it knows what to do. The biggest change was our work with how forward my belt is going. I had learned how to do it before, but something wasn’t clicking for me to keep it forward. Katti listened to my fear about having true power in my voice and allowed me to have a safe place to start the work to let myself be heard. I ended up belting a note I had tried to… belt for 10 years!

I’m so excited – I got the role I told you I was called back for (the initial audition consisted of a monologue and my singing “That’s Rich,” which I had worked with you in my VIP session)! Thank you so much, Katti, for your training! I’m thrilled, and will continue to make the efforts to sing without fear and apply the proper technique so I can sing without getting fatigued.

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Thank you, Katti. I’ve learned so much from you; no words can express my gratitude!

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How to Win a Singing Competition

Last Updated: March 21, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Tanisha Hall . Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 95,909 times.

Singing competitions are both exciting and nerve-wracking. To improve your chances at winning one, you’ll need to pick a great song, practice as much as you can, and use confident body language to make the audience feel more engaged. Taking care of your body and adopting a positive mindset can also get you ready to give a killer performance.

Choosing a Song

• You’re better off choosing a simpler song that you can sing comfortably than a challenging song.

• Avoid giving cliche reasons for picking your artist. Try to find an original perspective.

Working on the Basics

• Your lower abdomen should expand as you inhale and contract as you exhale.

• If you don’t have an instrument on hand, try using an online keyboard.

• Lean forward a little bit, and keep your abdomen tight but expandable.

• You should always begin your warm up with breath activation exercises, like hissing or trills. Then, do some scales that stretch your range. Finally, if you have time, you should work on improving techniques or skills that give you a little trouble.

Practicing Your Song

• When you’re working on your song, start by learning the rhythm, melody, and lyrics. Once you know the lyrics and melody by heart, work on mastering the song’s vocal style and putting your own unique spin on it.

• Performing in front of a mirror can be super helpful as well.

• Listen to their critiques without taking them personally. If they tell you you’re too stiff, don’t get defensive. Realize that they want to help you, and focus on loosening up a bit during your performance.

• Remember, it’s better to do a little practicing every day than one huge practice session once a week. [10] X Research source

• Watch one of your favorite performances while looking in a mirror. Mimic the performer to improve your performance style.

Taking Care of Your Body and Voice

• Try to go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugary foods right before bed.

• Stick to water. Avoid sugary beverages like juice and soda.

• Avoid sugary foods and caffeine on competition day. These can increase your anxiety. [14] X Research source
• Steer clear of alcohol, spicy foods, and citrus, which can cause acid reflux. [15] X Research source
• Keep away from dairy products before you compete, like cheese, milk, and yogurt. These can thicken the phlegm in your throat. [16] X Research source

• You should come up with a warm up ritual, either on your own or with your vocal coach. YouTube can be a great source for warm up ideas.

Getting in a Positive Mindset

• If you find yourself thinking, “I’m going to mess up,” tell yourself, “You can do this. You’ve practiced a ton, and now it’s time to give it all you’ve got.”

• You might have a phrase like, “Time to crush it,” or visualize yourself winning the competition.

• Put your energy into providing a good show for the audience rather than worrying about what they’re thinking.

Giving a Great Performance

• Make sure you come to the front of the stage from time to time throughout your performance. It’ll help you connect with your audience.

• Gestures are especially important if you’re not moving around much during your performance.

• The judges aren’t evil masterminds out to get you. They actually want you to do well!

Expert Q&A

• Regardless of whether you win or lose, always be gracious and courteous to the judges and the other competitors. A sore winner is just as bad as a sore loser. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don’t put too much pressure on a single competition. If this one doesn’t go well, you’ll have other opportunities to shine. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://kentamplinvocalacademy.com/how-to-win-singing-competitions/
• ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/singing-posture
• ↑ http://blog.stageagent.com/how-to-warm-up-before-singing/
• ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/singing-practice-routine-z02
• ↑ http://blog.sonicbids.com/how-to-prep-your-voice-for-your-next-big-show-a-three-week-guide
• ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/sleep-needs-get-the-sleep-you-need.htm
• ↑ http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/stage-fright-performance-anxiety#1
• ↑ https://www.caricole.com/performance-tips/
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hope-relationships/201605/the-power-positive-self-talk
• ↑ http://www.askavocalcoach.com/singing-performance-tips/
• ↑ http://takelessons.com/blog/singing-contests-z02
• ↑ Tanisha Hall. Vocal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.

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Singing as a Hobby and Way of Self-Expression Essay

Among the hobbies I became interested in during my studies is singing. It is probably a rather specific hobby, but muttering songs under my nose or singing in the shower calms me down. It is a good way to relieve stress, mostly in solitude and without disturbing other people. In my video, I tried to reflect on the feelings that singing in the shower evokes in me.

I want to draw attention to the feeling of lightness and free my head from serious thoughts. I need to have a source of relaxation and nonchalance during my studies, and singing is great for letting me do my things without any tension. My hobby does not require any skills, just my desire. I suppose I may not be good at singing, and some notes may sound funny. I do not have a sense of deadlines, rush, or a desire to succeed and be the best, but I get satisfaction and feel comfortable.

Among the paintings that remind me of singing is The Scream . As far as I know, Edvard Munch painted it several times with different techniques (“The Scream”). I am struck by such zeal, and I realize that it is not achievable for me. I am not interested in achieving mastery in my singing and have not even thought about it. There are talented people besides me, and I do not want to get on the stage because I fear losing the pleasure of the hobby.

I would like to say that my hobby is simple, and I would never make it a professional career. I may not be motivated enough, but I do not want to have straight-A student syndrome or any anxiety that I am not good enough. I have learned from the Van Gogh example that there are more valuable things, and if a hobby comes at the expense of mental health, it is rational to give it up.

“The Scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch” . Evdard Munch , no date, Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, November 24). Singing as a Hobby and Way of Self-Expression. https://ivypanda.com/essays/singing-as-a-hobby-and-way-of-self-expression/

"Singing as a Hobby and Way of Self-Expression." IvyPanda , 24 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/singing-as-a-hobby-and-way-of-self-expression/.

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IvyPanda . 2023. "Singing as a Hobby and Way of Self-Expression." November 24, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/singing-as-a-hobby-and-way-of-self-expression/.

1. IvyPanda . "Singing as a Hobby and Way of Self-Expression." November 24, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/singing-as-a-hobby-and-way-of-self-expression/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Singing as a Hobby and Way of Self-Expression." November 24, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/singing-as-a-hobby-and-way-of-self-expression/.

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Singing competition by nammu.

I looked out of the car window, I saw the same poster about a singing competition on every single building there was in the city as I stared in amazement. "Mum, Dad, Can I please go to that singing competition!" I asked. "Of course you can go dear" replied mum as she looked behind at me. "This competition seems to be quite famous, I know you are great at singing but the competition here is very high, be sure to practice a lot and try your best", added dad. Mum nodded. "Yes dad! I will!" I replied. I felt quite nervous when dad said that but singing was my passion and I loved it ever since I was very young, I knew this was a great opportunity so I tried to feel confident and worked very hard.

I chose to sing 'Halo' by Beyoncé, since it was a very attractive song and I loved it too. Every week, I would go to my music class and practice with the help of my expert teacher. Her advice really helped me improve. At home, I would sing to my parents and they would encourage me by telling me how they thought that I would stand out from the other participants. The competition was getting closer, with all this help and practice, I was ready.

Hundreds of people were there watching me closely as I was about to sing on stage. Who knows what they would think of my singing, I just had to try my best. "You can do this!" I whispered to myself before I sang. Then there I was, singing with all my might as I let out my whole inner expression towards my singing. I looked at everyone and they were smiling! I knew they liked my song! The audience roared and clapped! I glanced around and noticed my parents, I could tell they were very proud of me!

At the end, it was time to find out who had won the competition! "The winner is..", the announcer began, "Lilly Hampton! Please come up to the stage!". That was me! I couldn't believe it, my hands were shaking as I was overwhelmed with happiness. I held onto my trophy and medal, smiling as everyone including my parents took pictures of me!

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14 Best Songwriting Contests 2024 You Can Enter To Test Your Writing Skills

Songwriting contests vary in their size and scope, but they are great ways to test your skills and try to gain exposure. Winning a song competition provides more than prizes – they can be a great intro to the music industry and help you build a compelling story too.

Some contests have thousands of entrants, some have few. Some are better than others!

In this guide, we’re going to shine a light on some of the biggest contests in the world and some smaller ones that are definitely worth entering.

But first, if it's your aim to do music professionally, you'll want to check out our free ebook while it's still available:

Free eBook: Discover how real independent musicians like you are making $4,077 - $22,573+ monthly via Youtube, let me know where to send the details:

1. USA Songwriting Competition

The USA Songwriting Competition is a long-standing contest, being around since 1995. Despite its name, this is actually an international contest, with entry available to you no matter where you are in the world.

As with any good competition, a big prize is on offer to the winner. $50,000 in a mix of cash and prizes to be precise. This amount may change year to year, so be sure to check their website for the latest.

Entry is $35 per song. If you’re not sure which song to submit, you can submit multiple songs and give yourself a better chance of winning.

Submitting a song is as easy as uploading an MP3, making sure it’s 10MB or lower, right after you enter your details.

While judges will vary from year to year, they do mention winners are picked by music industry professionals.

2. American Songwriter Lyric Contest

American Songwriter runs two songwriting contests – a lyric contest and a song contest. This is a famous contest with serious prizes.

First place gets $10,000 USD, a two-page feature in the American Songwriter magazine, a consultation with a reputable publisher and record label, a Martin GPC-X2E Rosewood Guitar, and a lifetime membership to the magazine.

Second place gets $1,000, a half-page feature in the magazine, a Martin OMC-X1E Black Guitar, and a lifetime membership to the magazine. Third place gets a half-page feature in the magazine, a Martin LX1E Guitar, and a lifetime American Songwriter subscription.

One of the benefits of a reputable songwriting competition is being heard by the judges, who are typically industry professionals or successful artists and songwriters.

The 2020 judges included Mackenzie Porter, Michael Franti, BJ Hill (VP of Warner Chappell), Matt Nathanson, and John Strohm of Rounder Records.

If you register early, the contest costs $15 per song/genre to enter. The songs are then sent to screening for competitiveness – weeding out songs that don’t compete. Then, the songs are sent to the judges, where they listen to the song in its entirety.

3. Great American Song Contest

The Great American Song Contest was started by songwriters, for songwriters. Instead of focusing on hype and big cash prizes, the contest focuses on giving awards, useful prizes, and ways to improve your songwriting, advance your career, and promote your songs.

This contest sets itself apart by offering all entrants a written evaluation of their song from the contest judges. This sets the contest apart from other contests – instead of a few songwriters receiving all the prizes, every songwriter at least gets some feedback.

The contest is only open to amateurs and semi-professional songwriters, not to professionals who are already making thousands of dollars in royalties. Between this and the fact that they only accept 5,000 entries per year, the contest is fair and more worthwhile for the average songwriter.

All the categories provide awards to the top five songwriters, so there is a total of 50 awards in 10 different categories. The grand prize is $1,000 in cash, plus a free Platinum Membership to SongU.com. SongU.com is a songwriting learning center with educational opportunities, courses, mentoring, and pitching opportunities.

The Grand Prize also includes a $200 gift certificate to Musician’s Friend, $100 to CD Baby, five free Music Xray diagnostics, DrumCore 4, a free song mastered by Sage, MasterWriter 3.0, a one-year membership to Broadjam, and The Indie Bible.

It is a great contest with helpful prizes!

4. International Songwriting Competition

The International Songwriting Competition is the biggest songwriting contest in the world. It boasts celebrity judges like Dua Lipa, Tom Waits, and Coldplay, and promises big prizes to the winners.

The grand prize from the ISC is $25,000 USD in cash, a fully mastered album, a pair of fancy headphones, an electric guitar from Omnis, global disitribution from Play MPE, free releases from TuneCore, and a ton of awesome subscriptions.

This contest receives many thousands of entries, so competition is stiff. It also costs $35 per song to enter the contest, which is more than some competitions, especially given the competition.

That said, there are lots of genres which give you more ways to win. There is also a Teen category for those who are 18 years old or younger. The Unpublished category is open to independent songwriters who are not involved with a publishing company.

Overall, it is a good contest and worth entering, especially if you have a serious hit on your hands. Don’t get discouraged if your entry doesn’t make it too far – there are just so many entrants!

5. John Lennon Songwriting Contest

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international contest that began in 1997, made possible by Yoko Ono. It is a huge contest with over $300,000 in cash awards and prizes in 12 categories.

There are 72 finalists, 24 grand prize winners, 12 Lennon Award Winners, and one song of the year. The Song of the Year receives $20,000 USD, a Thunderbay 4 Mini, and an SSL Fusion.

There are 24 grand prizes in various categories. The grand prize winners get an Epiphone Les Paul, an Epiphone acoustic, a pair of Genelec 8030 active monitors, a Mesa Boogie amp, the SSL Native Complete Bundle, and more. All of the prizes are practical and cool. Great instruments and well-chosen pieces of gear.

The entries are judges on originality, lyrics, melody, and composition. There is also an instrumental category. Your entry does not need to be a professional recording, it just needs to be under five minutes, include lyrics, and have $30 attached to it.

6. UK Songwriting Contest

The UK Songwriting Contest is a long-running and popular international songwriting contest. Launched by the makers of the BRIT award, it is supported by the BBC and has over £1,000,000 in prizes to be won.

Winners of the UK Songwriting Contest have gone on to do some impressive things in the industry. Neil Fitzpatrick was signed to Justin Bieber’s publishing company and his winning song made $100,000 in sales. The winning song “When You Ride A Dream” was released worldwide as an Olympic Games theme. Bell Humble won the contest and went on to write for Hilary Duff, Paloma Faith, and has received several TV syncs.

The UK Songwriting Contest is cool because you get a professional star rating from the judges. It is not a detailed review of the song, but at least you get some feedback. Every song is also entered to their insider list of songs, which has resulted in deals and syncs for contestants.

The grand prize winner gets personal PA to work with you on a promotional campaign for the songs. You’ll also get a professional mix and master at Abbey Road Studios. Every winner also receives media promotion and video promotion on the UKSC YouTube Channel, and more.

7. Mid-Atlantic Song Contest

The Songwriters Association of Washington created the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest . It is a non-profit contest set up to listen thoughtfully to each submission and help songwriters receive recognition for their work.

There are a variety of different categories including a Young Artist category for those who are under 21. Entries are 22 per song, per category.

The Songwriters Association of Washington also hosts showcases, open mics, and workshops. If you are submitting to the contest, you should also take the time to participate in some of these free opportunities for networking and showing off your work.

8. NewSong Music Competition

The Newsong Music Competition is a showcase of singer-songwriters around North America. This contest is not a cash contest, but the prizes are super cool.

While prizes change each year, as of the time of writing, the grand prize is the opportunity to record a 6 track EP for free with a reputable producer. Other prizes are also to be announced.

Overall, these prizes are designed to give you a solid boost of national promotion. Ingrid Michaelson is a former contest winner as well.

Finalists or standouts from the contest are invited to participate in future NewSong Music productions and are considered for film and television placements. The contest is open to all genres, but the songs must have lyrics.

9. European Songwriting Awards

The European Songwriting Awards are a smaller contest with some cool prizes. The grand prize is a worldwide release with professional radio tracking and online promo. There are also gear and software prizes from various partners and sponsors.

There are only a few categories including Singer-Songwriter, Open – which is anything from hardcore to classical – Music for Motion Pictures, and Pop. The entry fee is £25.

10. Songdoor International Songwriting Competition

The Songdoor competition is a smaller competition with some cool perks. For one, every entrant receives a free, unlimited access trial to SongU.com and a Broadjam Film/TV membership, and a different kind of songwriting software every year.

I like this way of doing it, because if you are entering every year, you get a free annual subscription, and you’ll end up with a nice collection of songwriting software. These smaller contests have good ideas!

The contest only costs $15 to enter, making it one of the lowest entry fees I’ve seen so far. Every song gets a full listen during the screening process, and an additional screening for film and TV placement.

The grand prize is $1,000, a full band demo recorded at Colorado Sound Studios, and an acoustic demo as well. If you don’t want the acoustic demo, you can have a song professionally mixed for free.

11. The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is curated by MerleFest, a festival dedicated to celebrating “traditional plus” music.

This contest is a little different, because the finalists all perform at the Austin Stage at MerleFest each year. This gives all of the finalists an amazing performance opportunity and some serious street cred. The first-place winner gets a full performance slot at the Cabin Stage during MerleFest.

The contest focuses on traditional genres but is open to the “traditional plus” criteria that the festival serves. Categories are Bluegrass, Country, General, and Gospel/Inspirational. The songs must have lyrics to qualify.

12.  Luxembourg Sinfonietta International Composition Prize

Composers from around the world are invited to participate the Sinfonietta competition . This contest judges new works for orchestra. The orchestra can consist of seven traditional Chinese instruments or seven classical Western instruments.

The compositions must be a single movement that lasts from 10 to 12 minutes. They must consist of nine music-sections, which each section lasting from 50 to 90 sections. Each section should be inspired by a painting or photograph of a scene or memory, which can be uploaded alongside the composition.

The sequence of the proposed pictures must be respected and should be marked in the score. During the Final Concert in the competition the piece will be performed together with a slide show of the pictures provided together. The compositions must be composed specifically for the contest. There is no entry fee.

I think this contest is original and interesting. I love all the requirements, which make this truly a test of the entrant’s ability to create to a prompt. All the entries are anonymous and identified only by a code word, which makes it very fair.

The winners get £3,000, £2,000, £1,500 and £1,000 respectively. All the prize winners are featured in a concert in Luxembourg.

13. Grawemeyer Awards

The University of Louisville presents the Grawemeyer Awards to recognize compositions by composers in choral music, orchestral, chamber, electronic, song-cycle, opera, musical theater, and extended solo work.

The grand prize winner gets $100,000 in cash, which is presented at an awards ceremony. That is a lot of dough! However, it is not easy to apply to this contest. You have to be nominated with a supporting letter from a nominator, each nomination for the award must come from a professional organization or individual. You cannot submit your own work!

Submissions must include a bound copy of the full score and a professional quality recording the complete work. You also need documentation of the premiere public performance. So, the work must have been publicly performed.

This is a prestigious competition, but nonetheless an interesting competition for those who are composing interesting music.

14. NSAI Songwriting Contest

The Nashville Songwriters Association presents a songwriting contest with some great prizes. There are two programs – a songwriting competition and a lyric-only competition.

The grand prize for the songwriting contest is $5,000 and the prize for the lyric-only contest is $2,000. There are four mentors including the multi-platinum selling artist Elle King, as well as several Martin guitars and string prizes totaling over $21,000 in value.

The grand prize winner gets a one year, single-song contract with Anthem Entertainment on top of it all!

Top Songwriting Contests & Compeitions, Final Thoughts

Songwriting contests are generally competitive and winning can be quite tough!

But if you focus on having fun and learning from the experience, you will find it incredibly rewarding.

If you decide to enter, do your personal best and don’t worry too much about the other contestants.

P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free ‘5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you!

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60 Congratulations Messages for Contest Winner

Whether it’s a competitive sports event, an academic challenge, an artistic competition, or any other endeavor, the journey towards victory is often marked by hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. 

Sending heartfelt congratulations messages to contest winners not only recognizes their triumph but also extends the warmth of support and encouragement. 

In this blog, we’ll explore a collection of uplifting messages that you can use to convey your congratulations and share in the excitement of their well-deserved success.

Congratulations Messages for Contest Winner

• Congratulations on this fantastic achievement! Your hard work and determination have truly paid off.
• Winning this contest wasn’t an accident. Your efforts and skills made it possible. Kudos to you!
• Your dedication to your craft and unyielding determination shone through. Bravo on your well-deserved win!
• The crown of victory suits you the best. Heartfelt congratulations on your big achievement.
• Every competition brings out a winner, but not all winners show the depth of excellence like you did. Cheers!
• When they announced your name, I wasn’t surprised. I always knew you were destined for greatness .
• All those nights you spent preparing and the sacrifices you made have finally borne fruit . Superb job!
• This is just the beginning of many more accolades. Celebrate this one, and gear up for the next. Well done!
• Your consistent performance and drive have finally led you to this. Hat’s off to you, champ!
• There’s the winner’s circle, and then there’s the circle for those who shine the brightest within it. You belong to the latter . Congrats!
• Dreams come true to those who strive. Congratulations on proving that hard work does pay off.
• This win was not by chance, but by choice – the choice to persevere, be determined, and give it your all. Cheers to you!
• Watching you clinch the title was a moment of pride for all of us. Keep scaling new heights.
• Your achievement is a testament to both your skills and your commitment . Big congrats!
• Champions like you redefine what it means to be the best. Your win today is well-deserved and well-celebrated.
• This victory is just a step towards your destiny. Embrace it and set your sights on the next big challenge .
• Just when I thought you couldn’t impress me more, you did with this remarkable win. Congratulations!
• Your talent, dedication, and passion have earned you this win. You’re an inspiration to many!
• To the star of the contest, may this victory be the launchpad for many more successes in your life.
• Always knew there was a champion within you. Today, the world knows it too. Magnificent job!

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Congratulations Notes for Contest Winner

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am absolutely thrilled to hear about your recent win in the [Specific Content/Competition Name]! Your hard work, dedication, and passion truly paid off, and this achievement is a testament to your outstanding capabilities.

Every endeavor requires commitment and resilience, and your success showcases both in abundance. Remember, it’s not just about the destination but the journey, and you’ve proven that you can navigate both with grace and expertise.

Celebrate this win, relish this moment, and always remember that every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. May this success be just the beginning of a lifetime of achievements.

Once again, congratulations and I look forward to witnessing many more of your remarkable milestones.

Warm Regards,

[Your Name]

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Hello [Recipient’s Name],

I just heard about your triumph in the [Specific Content/Competition Name], and I couldn’t wait another moment to send you my heartiest congratulations! Your success isn’t just luck – it’s a vivid representation of the diligence and persistence you’ve consistently put into your work.

The road to victory is filled with challenges, yet you’ve made it seem effortless with your unwavering determination. Remember this moment, as it’s a shining beacon of what’s possible when talent meets hard work.

May this accolade not be an end, but rather a grand beginning to many more achievements to come. You’ve set the bar high, and I’m confident that this is only a glimpse of the even brighter future ahead.

Cheers to your incredible accomplishment!

Warm wishes,

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The news of your victory in the [Specific Content/Competition Name] reached me, and I was immediately filled with an immense sense of pride and joy for you! It’s not every day that we get to celebrate such outstanding accomplishments.

Your relentless effort, unwavering focus, and sheer determination have culminated in this well-deserved success. You’ve illustrated that when passion meets perseverance, magic truly happens.

While this win is a monumental achievement, I have no doubt that it’s just one of the many milestones you’ll conquer in your journey. Your story is one of inspiration, reminding all of us of the wonders that can be achieved with dedication and heart.

So, raise a toast to this splendid moment and bask in the glow of your achievement. Here’s to many more accolades and victories in the chapters yet to be written!

With admiration and cheers,

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Congratulations Messages for Winning a Cooking Contest

• Flavors and flair – you’ve got it all! Congratulations on this delectable victory.
• Your culinary skills have always been top-notch . Today, they got the recognition they deserve. Kudos!
• Every dish you create is a story, and this win just added a golden chapter to it. Cheers!
• I always said your kitchen creations were award-winning. Now, it’s official ! Well done!
• The perfect blend of taste, presentation, and passion. That’s your secret recipe to success. Congratulations !
• Your culinary journey has been as delightful as the dishes you prepare. Bravo on this savory victory!
• Today, the world got a taste of your exceptional cooking talent. Here’s to many more tasty victories ahead!
• From the aroma to the presentation, every element of your dish screamed perfection . Congrats on the win!
• A dash of dedication, a sprinkle of passion, and a whole lot of talent. That’s your recipe for success. Well done !
• Your hands create magic in the kitchen, and today, that magic won you the title. Superb job!
• For someone who puts so much love and care into their cooking, this win is well-deserved. Heartfelt congratulations !
• Cooking isn’t just about flavors, it’s about heart. And you, my friend, have a big one. Congrats on this flavorful win !
• Your dish wasn’t just food; it was art. And today, your artistry was recognized. Cheers to you!
• I always believed that your place was at the pinnacle of the culinary world. Today, you’ve shown that to be true .
• It’s not just about the ingredients but how you bring them together. Your victory today was a culinary symphony !
• To the chef with the golden touch, may this be one of many accolades on your kitchen wall. Congratulations !
• Every chef can cook, but not all can make the heart and palate sing in harmony. Today, you did just that. Magnificent job !
• Your culinary masterpiece showcased your depth of knowledge and love for cooking. Here’s to the chef extraordinaire !
• Winning a cooking contest isn’t just about the taste, it’s about the soul you put into every dish. And yours shines brightly .
• In the vast cookbook of life, this victory is your most delicious recipe yet. Savor it !

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Congratulations Messages for Winning a Dance Contest

• Every move, every leap, every twirl spoke volumes of your passion and dedication . Congratulations on your mesmerizing win!
• The stage lit up the moment you stepped on it. Your dance was not just a performance but a beautiful story . Kudos to you!
• From the rhythm of your feet to the sparkle in your eyes , you owned that stage. Congrats on your well-deserved victory!
• Dance is the language of the soul, and today, yours spoke the loudest. Heartfelt congratulations on your win!
• You moved with grace, danced with heart, and captivated every single person. Bravo on this fantastic achievement!
• The trophy might be in your hands, but the real victory is in the impressions you’ve left in our hearts. Congratulations!
• Your dance was more than steps choreographed to a beat; it was emotion, story, and raw talent combined. Well done!
• Dance champions like you redefine the art with every performance. Today’s win is a testament to your unique flair .
• You’ve not just won the contest, but you’ve also won countless hearts with your exceptional talent . Cheers to you!
• From the subtlety of your expressions to the precision of your steps, everything was spot-on . Congrats on the win!
• In the world of dance, some shine and some dazzle. Today, you did more than dazzle; you mesmerized . Kudos!
• Your performance was a beautiful blend of technique and emotion. Congratulations on dancing your way to victory !
• To the star dancer of the evening, may this victory lead you to even bigger stages and brighter spotlights .
• Your dedication to the craft of dance shone brightly on that stage. You truly deserve this moment of glory .
• Every beat, every rhythm, every move was perfection. Congratulations on a performance that will be remembered for ages .
• In a sea of dancers, your talent and passion set you apart. Magnificent job on winning the contest!
• Every time you dance, you breathe life into the music. Today’s win is just a reflection of that magical talent .
• Dance is not just about moving; it’s about inspiring. And today, you inspired many. Congratulations !
• Your performance was poetry in motion, and this win is just the beginning of your dance legacy.
• Dance is an expression, and today, you expressed yourself in the most enchanting way. Big congrats!

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Congratulations Messages for Winning a Singing Contest

• Your voice wasn’t just heard; it resonated in our souls. Congratulations on this melodious victory!
• Every note, every tune, every lyric was sung with perfection. You truly are a musical genius . Well done!
• Music has the power to touch hearts, and today, your voice was the most powerful instrument. Bravo on the win!
• From the depth of your lows to the peak of your highs, your performance was a musical masterpiece . Congrats!
• You didn’t just sing a song; you told a story and made us feel every emotion. Kudos on your fantastic win!
• The stage, the mic, the audience – everything paled in comparison to the magic of your voice. Congratulations on a well-deserved win!
• Your melodic voice, combined with your passion, set the stage on fire. Here’s to the singing sensation of the night!
• You’ve not only showcased your vocal prowess but also the depth of your musical understanding. Superb job !
• In the symphony of life, this victory is your solo performance, and you nailed it. Cheers to you!
• Some voices entertain, some captivate, and then there are voices like yours that enchant . Big congratulations!
• Music is the universal language, and today, you spoke its most beautiful dialect . Well done!
• To the maestro of melodies, this win is a mere reflection of your unparalleled vocal talent .
• Every song you sing turns into an anthem for the listeners. Today’s win is a testimony to that. Congratulations !
• Your voice has the power to move mountains and touch souls. And today, it won you the crown of glory . Kudos!
• Singing is not just about hitting the right notes; it’s about conveying emotions. And you did it flawlessly. Bravo !
• In the vast universe of music, your star shone the brightest today. Magnificent job on your win!
• The music world has found its new gem, and it’s you. Here’s to many more melodic victories ahead!
• Your vocal cords spun magic, your emotions touched hearts, and your performance won the contest. Cheers to you!
• Amidst the chorus of talents, your voice was the captivating solo that everyone awaited. Big congrats!
• This is just the start. With a voice like yours, the world is your stage, and this victory is the first of many encores .

Read Posts from Other Topics

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Best Essay Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 51 contests that match your search.

Climate Change Writing Competition

Write the World

Genres: Essay, Memoir, and Non-fiction

This month, dear writers, ahead of COP27, help us raise the voices of young people in this urgent fight. In a piece of personal narrative, tell the world’s leaders gathering in how climate change impacts you. How has this crisis changed your environment, your community, your sense of the future? Storytelling, after all, plays a critical role in helping us grasp the emergency through which we are all living, igniting empathy in readers and listeners—itself a precursor to action.

Additional prizes:

Runner-up: $50

📅 Deadline: October 18, 2022 (Expired)

African Diaspora Awards 2024

Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Up to $1000 in cash prizes for the African Diaspora Award 2024. African-themed prose and poetry wanted. Top finalists are published in Kinsman Quarterly’s magazine and the anthology, “Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora.”

Publication in anthology, "Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora" and print and digital magazine

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024

Literary and Photographic Contest 2023-2024

Hispanic Culture Review

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry

As we move forward we carry our culture wherever we go. It keeps us alive. This is why we propose the theme to be “¡Hacia delante!”. A phrase that means to move forward. This year we ask that you think about the following questions: What keeps you moving forward? What do you carry with you going into the future? How do you celebrate your successes, your dreams, and your culture?

Publication in magazine

📅 Deadline: February 07, 2024 (Expired)

Craft your masterpiece in Reedsy Studio

Plan, write, edit, and format your book in our free app made for authors.

Learn more about Reedsy Studio .

Irene Adler Prize

Lucas Ackroyd

Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, and Travel

I’ve traveled the world from Sweden to South Africa, from the Golden Globes to the Olympic women’s hockey finals. I’ve photographed a mother polar bear and her cubs and profiled stars like ABBA, Jennifer Garner and Katarina Witt. And I couldn’t have done it without women. I’ve been very fortunate, and it’s time for me to give back. With the Irene Adler Prize, I’m awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution.

2x honorable mentions: $250

📅 Deadline: May 30, 2024

A Very Short Story Contest

Gotham Writers Workshop

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, and Non-fiction

Write a great short story in ten words or fewer. Submit it to our contest. Entry is free. Winner of the bet gets a free Gotham class.

Free writing class from Gotham Writers Workshop.

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024

Young Sports Journalist 2024

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The Young Sports Journalist Competition, 2024, seeks well-argued articles from aspiring journalists aged 14-21. Winning entries will be published online and printed in the Summer Issue of Pitch. Critiqued by our panel of accomplished judges, winners will also receive a £50 cash prize and offered work experience here at PITCH HQ. The competition runs from 7 February 2024 to 5 April 2024. And winners will be announced in May.

Publication in magazine and online

📅 Deadline: April 05, 2024 (Expired)

Hispanic Culture Review Contest 2022-2023

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Flash Fiction

As the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano once said, "the best that the world has is in the many worlds that the world contains." Therefore, this year we invite you to reflect on the following questions: How do you or your community celebrate these connections? How do you value those experiences with those people who leave a mark on your life? 1 work will be awarded in each category: 1) photography & visual arts, 2) poetry, and 3) narrative/essay/academic investigation.

$100 for photography, poetry, and essay winners

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: February 01, 2023 (Expired)

Rigel 2024: $500 for Prose, Poetry, Art, or Graphic Novel

Sunspot Literary Journal

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story

Literary or genre works accepted. Winner receives $500 plus publication, while runners-up and finalists are offered publication. No restrictions on theme or category. Closes: February 29. Entry fee: $12.50. Enter as many times as you like through Submittable or Duotrope

$500 + publication

Runners-up and finalists are offered publication

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)

Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, and Short Story

The Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing will be administered to the winner of a literary contest designed to champion innovative hybrid and cross-genre work.

💰 Entry fee: $22

📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Annual Student Essay Contest

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

For this year’s Essay Contest, we are asking students to think about why the story of the Oklahoma City bombing is important today.

📅 Deadline: March 04, 2024 (Expired)

The Hudson Prize

Black Lawrence Press

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Each year Black Lawrence Press will award The Hudson Prize for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. The prize is open to new, emerging, and established writers.

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

World Historian Student Essay Competition

World History Association

Genres: Children's and Essay

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international competition open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs. Membership in the World History Association is not a requirement for submission. Past winners may not compete in the same category again.

📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)

Anthology Travel Writing Competition 2024

Anthology Magazine

The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished travel articles in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for an engaging article that will capture the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture. Max 1000 words.

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024

Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is a writing competition sponsored by the stage and radio series Selected Shorts. Selected Shorts is recorded for Public Radio and heard nationally on both the radio and its weekly podcast. This years entries will be judged by Carmen Maria Machado (In the Dream House, Her Body and Other Parties).

$1000 + free 10 week course with Gotham Writers

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award

Killer Nashville

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, and Thriller

The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is committed to discovering new writers, as well as superlative books by established authors and, upon discovery, sharing those writers and their works with new readers. There are a large number of both fiction and non-fiction categories you can enter.

💰 Entry fee: $79

📅 Deadline: June 15, 2024

NOWW 26th International Writing Contest

Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)

Open to all writers in four categories: poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and critical writing.

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50

💰 Entry fee: $7

High School Academic Research Competition

Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal

The High School Academic Research Competition is where talented students from around the world compete to publish high-quality research on any topic. SARC challenges students to sharpen their critical thinking skills, immerse themselves in the research process, and hone their writing skills for success.

Indigo Research Intensive Summer Program

📅 Deadline: April 17, 2024 (Expired)

Indignor Play House Annual Short Story Competition

Indignor House Publishing

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

Indignor House Publishing is proud to announce that our annual writing competition (INDIGNOR PLAYHOUSE Short Story Annual Competition) is officially open with expected publication in the fall of 2024. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual anthology.

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150

💰 Entry fee: $20

Military Anthology: Partnerships, the Untold Story

Armed Services Arts Partnership

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Partners are an integral aspect of military life, at home and afar, during deployment and after homecoming. Partnerships drive military action and extend beyond being a battle buddy, wingman, or crew member. Some are planned while others arise entirely unexpectedly. Spouses, family, old or new friends, community, faith leaders, and medical specialists all support the military community. Despite their importance, the stories of these partnerships often go untold. This anthology aims to correct that: We will highlight the nuances, surprises, joy, sorrow, heroism, tears, healing power, and ache of partnerships. We invite you to submit the story about partnerships from your journey, so we can help tell it.

$500 Editors' Choice award

$250 for each genre category (prose, poetry, visual art)

Askew's Word on the Lake Writing Contest

Shuswap Association of Writers

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Essay, Memoir, and Short Story

Whether you’re an established or emerging writer, the Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest has a place for you. Part of the Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival in Salmon Arm, BC, the contest is open to submissions in short fiction (up to 2,000 words), nonfiction (up to 2,000 words), and poetry (up to three one-page poems).

💰 Entry fee: $11

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

Vocal Challenges

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story

Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.

$1,000 — $5,000

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: March 07, 2024 (Expired)

Bacopa Literary Review Annual Writing Contest

Writers Alliance of Gainesville

Bacopa Literary Review’s 2024 contest is open from March 4 through April 4, with $200 Prize and $100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Free Verse Poetry, Formal Poetry, and Visual Poetry.

📅 Deadline: May 02, 2024 (Expired)

Journalism Competition 2024

What are the most important issues taking place close to home? Perhaps a rare bird sighting near your town? Or a band of young people in your province fighting for access to higher education? This month, immerse yourself in a newsworthy event inside the borders of your own country, and invite us there through your written reporting.

Best entry: $100

Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50

📅 Deadline: July 22, 2024

Goldilocks Zone

Sunspot Lit is looking for the perfect combination of craft and appeal in stories, CNF, novel or novella excerpts, artwork, graphic novels, poems, scripts/screenplays. Literary and genre accepted. Enter through Submittable or Duotrope.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Stories of Inspiration

Nonfiction stories of inspiration wanted (between 500 to 2,000 words). Submissions should highlight the struggle and resilience of the human spirit, especially related to cultures of BIPOC or marginalized communities. Stories must be original, unpublished works in English. One successful entry will be awarded each month from April 2024 and will be included within Kinsman Quarterly’s online journal and digital magazine. Successful authors receive $200 USD and publication in our digital magazine. No entry fee required.

Publication in Kinsman Quarterly's online magazine

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

International Essay Competition 2023/24

Avernus Education

Genres: Essay

Welcome to our prestigious International Essay Competition. At Avernus Education, we are thrilled to provide a platform for young minds to showcase their prowess in Medicine, Engineering, Law, Economics, Psychology, History and Politics. These varied subject categories underscore the importance of interdisciplinary study, a crucial foundation for future leaders in our increasingly interconnected world. Winners receive an exclusive Avernus Education Scholarship worth over £5000 - granting them free entrance to our exclusive summer camp at Oxford University! Outstanding Runners Up receive 5 hours worth of Credits for Avernus Education courses, conferences and tutoring services.

100% Scholarship Award to our Oxford University Summer Programme (worth £5995)

Partial scholarship

📅 Deadline: February 19, 2024 (Expired)

Solas Awards

Best Travel Writing

Extraordinary stories about travel and the human spirit have been the cornerstones of our books since 1993. With the Solas Awards we honor writers whose work inspires others to explore. We’re looking for the best stories about travel and the world. Funny, illuminating, adventurous, uplifting, scary, inspiring, poignant stories that reflect the unique alchemy that occurs when you enter unfamiliar territory and begin to see the world differently as a result. We hope these awards will be a catalyst for those who love to leave home and tell others about it.

📅 Deadline: September 21, 2024

Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award

Trio House Press

We seek un-agented full-length creative nonfiction manuscripts including memoir, essay collections, etc. 50,000 - 80,000 words.

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024

The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction

The Letter Review

Genres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Crime, Humor, and Science Writing

2-4 Winners are published. We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Seeking Nonfiction 0-5000 words. Judges’ feedback available. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind. All entries considered for publication + submission to Pushcart.

Publication by The Letter Review

💰 Entry fee: $2

Personal Essay Competition 2024

Genres: Essay and Memoir

We want to hear about an experience in your life, rife with characters and description and conflict and scene… but we also want to hear how you make sense of this experience, how it sits with you, and why it has surfaced as writing. Open a window into your life and invite your readers to enter.

📅 Deadline: June 24, 2024

International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition

Vine Leaves Press

Genres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel

Small presses have potential for significant impact, and at Vine Leaves Press, we take this responsibility quite seriously. It is our responsibility to give marginalized groups the opportunity to establish literary legacies that feel rich and vast. Why? To sustain hope for the world to become a more loving, tolerable, and open space. It always begins with art. That is why we have launched this writing competition.

Book publication

📅 Deadline: July 01, 2024

Great American Think-Off

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas that connect to your life at the gut level. The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, sponsors this annual philosophy contest.

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

Narratively 2023 Memoir Prize

Narratively

Genres: Essay, Humor, Memoir, and Non-fiction

Narratively is currently accepting submissions for their 2023 Memoir Prize. They are looking for revealing and emotional first-person nonfiction narratives from unique and overlooked points of view. The guest judge is New York Times bestselling memoirist Stephanie Land.

$1,000 and publication

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2023 (Expired)

Work-In-Progress (WIP) Contest

Unleash Press

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Young Adult

We aim to assist writers in the completion of an important literary project and vision. The Unleash WIP Award offers writers support in the amount of $500 to supplement costs to aid in the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Writers will also receive editorial feedback, coaching meetings, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit.

Coaching, interview, and editorial support

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel

Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what's possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD.

2nd: writing coach package

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course: How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

How to Craft a Killer Short Story

The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction

How to Write a Novel

Understanding Point of View

Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love

Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character

Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine

On Editing:

Story Editing for Authors

How to Self-Edit Like a Pro

Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites

How to Write a Short Story in 7 Steps

Reedsy's guide to novel writing

Literary Devices and Terms — 35+ Definitions With Examples

10 Essential Fiction Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft

How to Write Dialogue: 8 Simple Rules and Exercises

8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character

Bonus resources

200+ Short Story Ideas

600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You

100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors

Story Title Generator

Pen Name Generator

Character Name Generator

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

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Discourse, debate, and analysis

Cambridge re:think essay competition 2024.

Competition Opens: 15th January, 2024

Essay Submission Deadline: 10th May, 2024 Result Announcement: 20th June, 2024 Award Ceremony and Dinner at the University of Cambridge: 30th July, 2024

We welcome talented high school students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Entry to the competition is free.

About the Competition

The spirit of the Re:think essay competition is to encourage critical thinking and exploration of a wide range of thought-provoking and often controversial topics. The competition covers a diverse array of subjects, from historical and present issues to speculative future scenarios. Participants are invited to engage deeply with these topics, critically analysing their various facets and implications. It promotes intellectual exploration and encourages participants to challenge established norms and beliefs, presenting opportunities to envision alternative futures, consider the consequences of new technologies, and reevaluate longstanding traditions. 

Ultimately, our aim is to create a platform for students and scholars to share their perspectives on pressing issues of the past and future, with the hope of broadening our collective understanding and generating innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. This year’s competition aims to underscore the importance of discourse, debate, and critical analysis in addressing complex societal issues in nine areas, including:

Religion and Politics

Political science and law, linguistics, environment, sociology and philosophy, business and investment, public health and sustainability, biotechonology.

Artificial Intelligence 

Neuroengineering

2024 essay prompts.

This year, the essay prompts are contributed by distinguished professors from Harvard, Brown, UC Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT.

Essay Guidelines and Judging Criteria

Review general guidelines, format guidelines, eligibility, judging criteria.

Awards and Award Ceremony

Award winners will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony and Dinner hosted at the King’s College, University of Cambridge. The Dinner is free of charge for select award recipients.

Registration and Submission

Register a participant account today and submit your essay before the deadline.

Advisory Committee and Judging Panel

The Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition is guided by an esteemed Advisory Committee comprising distinguished academics and experts from elite universities worldwide. These committee members, drawn from prestigious institutions, such as Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT, bring diverse expertise in various disciplines.

They play a pivotal role in shaping the competition, contributing their insights to curate the themes and framework. Their collective knowledge and scholarly guidance ensure the competition’s relevance, academic rigour, and intellectual depth, setting the stage for aspiring minds to engage with thought-provoking topics and ideas.

We are honoured to invite the following distinguished professors to contribute to this year’s competition.

The judging panel of the competition comprises leading researchers and professors from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Oxford, engaging in a strictly double blind review process.

Keynote Speeches by 10 Nobel Laureates

We are beyond excited to announce that multiple Nobel laureates have confirmed to attend and speak at this year’s ceremony on 30th July, 2024 .

They will each be delivering a keynote speech to the attendees. Some of them distinguished speakers will speak virtually, while others will attend and present in person and attend the Reception at Cambridge.

Why has religion remained a force in a secular world? 

Professor Commentary:

Arguably, the developed world has become more secular in the last century or so. The influence of Christianity, e.g. has diminished and people’s life worlds are less shaped by faith and allegiance to Churches. Conversely, arguments have persisted that hold that we live in a post-secular world. After all, religion – be it in terms of faith, transcendence, or meaning – may be seen as an alternative to a disenchanted world ruled by entirely profane criteria such as economic rationality, progressivism, or science. Is the revival of religion a pale reminder of a by-gone past or does it provide sources of hope for the future?

‘Religion in the Public Sphere’ by Jürgen Habermas (European Journal of Philosophy, 2006)

In this paper, philosopher Jürgen Habermas discusses the limits of church-state separation, emphasizing the significant contribution of religion to public discourse when translated into publicly accessible reasons.

‘Public Religions in the Modern World’ by José Casanova (University Of Chicago Press, 1994)

Sociologist José Casanova explores the global emergence of public religion, analyzing case studies from Catholicism and Protestantism in Spain, Poland, Brazil, and the USA, challenging traditional theories of secularization.

‘The Power of Religion in the Public Sphere’ by Judith Butler, Jürgen Habermas, Charles Taylor, and Cornel West (Edited by Eduardo Mendieta and Jonathan VanAntwerpen, Columbia University Press, 2011)

This collection features dialogues by prominent intellectuals on the role of religion in the public sphere, examining various approaches and their impacts on cultural, social, and political debates.

‘Rethinking Secularism’ by Craig Calhoun, Mark Juergensmeyer, and Jonathan VanAntwerpen (Oxford University Press, 2011)

An interdisciplinary examination of secularism, this book challenges traditional views, highlighting the complex relationship between religion and secularism in contemporary global politics.

‘God is Back: How the Global Rise of Faith is Changing the World’ by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge (Penguin, 2010)

Micklethwait and Wooldridge argue for the coexistence of religion and modernity, suggesting that religious beliefs can contribute to a more open, tolerant, and peaceful modern world.

‘Multiculturalism’ by Tariq Modood (Polity Press, 2013)

Sociologist Tariq Modood emphasizes the importance of multiculturalism in integrating diverse identities, particularly in post-immigration contexts, and its role in shaping democratic citizenship.

‘God’s Agents: Biblical Publicity in Contemporary England’ by Matthew Engelke (University of California Press, 2013)

In this ethnographic study, Matthew Engelke explores how a group in England seeks to expand the role of religion in the public sphere, challenging perceptions of religion in post-secular England.

Gene therapy is a medical approach that treats or prevents disease by correcting the underlying genetic problem. Is gene therapy better than traditional medicines? What are the pros and cons of using gene therapy as a medicine? Is gene therapy justifiable?

Especially after Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, gene therapy is getting more and more interesting approach to cure. That’s why that could be interesting to think about. I believe that students will enjoy and learn a lot while they are investigating this topic.

The Hall at King’s College, Cambridge

The Hall was designed by William Wilkins in the 1820s and is considered one of the most magnificent halls of its era. The first High Table dinner in the Hall was held in February 1828, and ever since then, the splendid Hall has been where members of the college eat and where formal dinners have been held for centuries.

The Award Ceremony and Dinner will be held in the Hall in the evening of  30th July, 2024.

Stretching out down to the River Cam, the Back Lawn has one of the most iconic backdrop of King’s College Chapel. 

The early evening reception will be hosted on the Back Lawn with the iconic Chapel in the background (weather permitting). 

King’s College Chapel

With construction started in 1446 by Henry VI and took over a century to build, King’s College Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and is a splendid example of late Gothic architecture. 

Attendees are also granted complimentary access to the King’s College Chapel before and during the event. 

Confirmed Nobel Laureates

Dr Thomas R. Cech

The nobel prize in chemistry 1989 , for the discovery of catalytic properties of rna.

Thomas Robert Cech is an American chemist who shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sidney Altman, for their discovery of the catalytic properties of RNA. Cech discovered that RNA could itself cut strands of RNA, suggesting that life might have started as RNA. He found that RNA can not only transmit instructions, but also that it can speed up the necessary reactions.

He also studied telomeres, and his lab discovered an enzyme, TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase), which is part of the process of restoring telomeres after they are shortened during cell division.

As president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he promoted science education, and he teaches an undergraduate chemistry course at the University of Colorado

Sir Richard J. Roberts

The nobel prize in medicine 1993 .

F or the discovery of split genes

During 1969–1972, Sir Richard J. Roberts did postdoctoral research at Harvard University before moving to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he was hired by James Dewey Watson, a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and a fellow Nobel laureate. In this period he also visited the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the first time, working alongside Fred Sanger. In 1977, he published his discovery of RNA splicing. In 1992, he moved to New England Biolabs. The following year, he shared a Nobel Prize with his former colleague at Cold Spring Harbor Phillip Allen Sharp.

His discovery of the alternative splicing of genes, in particular, has had a profound impact on the study and applications of molecular biology. The realisation that individual genes could exist as separate, disconnected segments within longer strands of DNA first arose in his 1977 study of adenovirus, one of the viruses responsible for causing the common cold. Robert’s research in this field resulted in a fundamental shift in our understanding of genetics, and has led to the discovery of split genes in higher organisms, including human beings.

Dr Aaron Ciechanover

The nobel prize in chemistry 2004 .

F or the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation

Aaron Ciechanover is one of Israel’s first Nobel Laureates in science, earning his Nobel Prize in 2004 for his work in ubiquitination. He is honored for playing a central role in the history of Israel and in the history of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

Dr Ciechanover is currently a Technion Distinguished Research Professor in the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute at the Technion. He is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Russian Academy of Sciences and is a foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences. In 2008, he was a visiting Distinguished Chair Professor at NCKU, Taiwan. As part of Shenzhen’s 13th Five-Year Plan funding research in emerging technologies and opening “Nobel laureate research labs”, in 2018 he opened the Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen campus.

Dr Robert Lefkowitz

The nobel prize in chemistry 2012 .

F or the discovery of G protein-coupled receptors

Robert Joseph Lefkowitz is an American physician (internist and cardiologist) and biochemist. He is best known for his discoveries that reveal the inner workings of an important family G protein-coupled receptors, for which he was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Brian Kobilka. He is currently an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well as a James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry at Duke University.

Dr Lefkowitz made a remarkable contribution in the mid-1980s when he and his colleagues cloned the gene first for the β-adrenergic receptor, and then rapidly thereafter, for a total of 8 adrenergic receptors (receptors for adrenaline and noradrenaline). This led to the seminal discovery that all GPCRs (which include the β-adrenergic receptor) have a very similar molecular structure. The structure is defined by an amino acid sequence which weaves its way back and forth across the plasma membrane seven times. Today we know that about 1,000 receptors in the human body belong to this same family. The importance of this is that all of these receptors use the same basic mechanisms so that pharmaceutical researchers now understand how to effectively target the largest receptor family in the human body. Today, as many as 30 to 50 percent of all prescription drugs are designed to “fit” like keys into the similarly structured locks of Dr Lefkowitz’ receptors—everything from anti-histamines to ulcer drugs to beta blockers that help relieve hypertension, angina and coronary disease.

Dr Lefkowitz is among the most highly cited researchers in the fields of biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical medicine according to Thomson-ISI.

Dr Joachim Frank

The nobel prize in chemistry 2017 .

F or developing cryo-electron microscopy

Joachim Frank is a German-American biophysicist at Columbia University and a Nobel laureate. He is regarded as the founder of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017 with Jacques Dubochet and Richard Henderson. He also made significant contributions to structure and function of the ribosome from bacteria and eukaryotes.

In 1975, Dr Frank was offered a position of senior research scientist in the Division of Laboratories and Research (now Wadsworth Center), New York State Department of Health,where he started working on single-particle approaches in electron microscopy. In 1985 he was appointed associate and then (1986) full professor at the newly formed Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University at Albany, State University of New York. In 1987 and 1994, he went on sabbaticals in Europe, one to work with Richard Henderson, Laboratory of Molecular Biology Medical Research Council in Cambridge and the other as a Humboldt Research Award winner with Kenneth C. Holmes, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg. In 1998, Dr Frank was appointed investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Since 2003 he was also lecturer at Columbia University, and he joined Columbia University in 2008 as professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and of biological sciences.

Dr Barry C. Barish

The nobel prize in physics 2017 .

For the decisive contributions to the detection of gravitational waves

Dr Barry Clark Barish is an American experimental physicist and Nobel Laureate. He is a Linde Professor of Physics, emeritus at California Institute of Technology and a leading expert on gravitational waves.

In 2017, Barish was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Rainer Weiss and Kip Thorne “for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves”. He said, “I didn’t know if I would succeed. I was afraid I would fail, but because I tried, I had a breakthrough.”

In 2018, he joined the faculty at University of California, Riverside, becoming the university’s second Nobel Prize winner on the faculty.

In the fall of 2023, he joined Stony Brook University as the inaugural President’s Distinguished Endowed Chair in Physics.

In 2023, Dr Barish was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Biden in a White House ceremony.

Dr Harvey J. Alter

The nobel prize in medicine 2020 .

For the discovery of Hepatitis C virus

Dr Harvey J. Alter is an American medical researcher, virologist, physician and Nobel Prize laureate, who is best known for his work that led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Alter is the former chief of the infectious disease section and the associate director for research of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. In the mid-1970s, Alter and his research team demonstrated that most post-transfusion hepatitis cases were not due to hepatitis A or hepatitis B viruses. Working independently, Alter and Edward Tabor, a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, proved through transmission studies in chimpanzees that a new form of hepatitis, initially called “non-A, non-B hepatitis” caused the infections, and that the causative agent was probably a virus. This work eventually led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus in 1988, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020 along with Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice.

Dr Alter has received recognition for the research leading to the discovery of the virus that causes hepatitis C. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award conferred to civilians in United States government public health service, and the 2000 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research.

Dr Ardem Patapoutian

The nobel prize in medicine 2021 .

For discovering how pressure is translated into nerve impulses

Dr Ardem Patapoutian is an Lebanese-American molecular biologist, neuroscientist, and Nobel Prize laureate of Armenian descent. He is known for his work in characterising the PIEZO1, PIEZO2, and TRPM8 receptors that detect pressure, menthol, and temperature. Dr Patapoutian is a neuroscience professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. In 2021, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with David Julius.

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• Short Story

Singing Competition

• Hannah Littler, Grade 8

I stand on the stage; a bright light is standing on me. I cannot see the audience but I know that there are a lot of people watching me. I glance sideways at my best friend Rachel. She is sitting at the piano ready to play the song I wrote for the school singing competition. It sounds so beautiful, I am glad I am friends with the pianist. I start to sing, the audience goes so quiet you could hear a pin drop. My hands are shaking I hope it does not come through in my voice. By the time I am at the chorus everyone is tapping their feet along to the song. I am so glad they are enjoying the song. It took me so long to write the lyrics and then the music. I wink at Rachel. I'm starting to enjoy myself. I start to smile as I sing and click my fingers along. This is so much fun. All my nerves are gone. When I finish the song, the audience clap and whistle. I am so glad they enjoyed it. Rachel and I take our bows and walk backstage. Some of the other performers congratulate us on our performance. We both sat back and relaxed; now we just have to wait for the judge’s decision. I could not stop myself from smiling. The other people who sing are so good. It looks like we have no chance of winning. With each person singing the audiences claps seem to be getting louder. When the last person sings we are all called onto the stage for the judges to announce the winners. In third place was a guy and a girl who sang a duet. They were really good. In second place was a girl who sang and played a guitar. She was amazing and in first place....two girls one with the voice of an angel, the other with hands like a dove. Singing an original composition, the winners of this year’s singing competition are Katy and Rachel. Oh my gosh we won. I never thought this would happen. The audience has gone wild. I don't believe it. My hard work did not go to waste. All the other performers congratulate us on a great performance. The next day at school everyone is asking for our signatures because they think we are going to become famous. Who knows we might.

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• Vocal Music
• Human Voice
• Vocal Range

Narrative Essay - My Love for Singing 5 Pages 1285 Words

             If I could write about one thing and one thing only, I would write about singing. I know many people who sing whether they actually have talent or not, but singing is my true passion; it is not just something I do in my spare time or just another accomplishment to check off of the list of things I can do. It is something that has true meaning to me. I dare say that it is the most important thing to me in my life besides God and my family. It is something I know that I will always have. While the athletes and beauty queens will eventually lose their skills and flattery, I will always be able to sing or at least listen to the music that I hold so close to my heart.              I never thought I would end up as a vocalist. When I was younger I always chose choir over band, but I never really enjoyed it. It was just something I had to do because I couldn't play an instrument. I always thought of music people as strange: the dorks who were too uncoordinated to do anything else. But now I know that musicians are some of the most brilliant, coordinated people in the world. When I entered Junior High at Briarwood Christian School I joined the choir because none of the other electives really interested me. I sang small solos in some of the songs, as did everyone else, and I would participate in some of the choir festivals and concerts that were held, but I never took it seriously. I didn't even think I could really sing. However, toward the end of my eighth grade year everything changed.              The choir director at my school wanted me to participate in a solo festival that was being held for beginning singers. I agreed to do it, not knowing what I was getting myself into. My selection was "Here I am, Lord", arranged by Jack Shraeder. With the              competition only two weeks away, my mother suggested that I get some help, so we went to my church, South Highland Presbyterian, on Wednesday night and called on Dr. John J. who was the choir director at South High...

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Switzerland wins Eurovision as chaos engulfs iconic song contest

Eurovision is the biggest live singing competition in the world, but this year it has been utterly consumed by disputes over Israel's involvement and the last-minute axing of Dutch singer Joost Klein.

By Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter, in Malmo, Sweden

Sunday 12 May 2024 01:06, UK

Switzerland has won Eurovision, topping the leaderboard in a competition fraught with last-minute changes and backstage incidents.

The first non-binary performer to take the trophy, Nemo used their childhood opera experience to pull together an impressive performance mixing rap, rock, drum 'n bass and classical opera, as well as balancing on a revolving disc spinning at speed as they sang.

The song - which took an early lead in the race - shares a message of self-acceptance and the freedom for each one of us to live our lives openly and without fear of judgment.

When accepting their prize, Nemo said: "I hope this contest can live up to its promise, and continue to stand up for peace." They then performed their song to wrap the show.

Nemo is the first Swiss act to win the contest since Celine Dion took the prize in 1988.

Croatian act Baby Lasagne (whose real name is Marko Purisic) took second place with the anarchic rock track Rim Tim Tagi Dim.

The UK's act, Dizzy, sung by Olly Alexander came 18th out of 25, with 46 points. He performed 13th in the running order - a number considered unlucky for some, and received a crushing "Nul Points" in the public vote.

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• Switzerland

The Years And Years star gave an energetic performance surrounded by his four dancers dressed in boxing shorts, writhing around a brightly lit cube decked out like a boxing ring.

Ireland's act, Bambie Thug, came a sixth, with their self-named "Ouija pop" track Doomsday Blue.

Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, opened the show, speaking in a short, pre-recorded video, and wishing all the contestants luck, before Sweden's identical twins Marcus and Martinus performed the first song.

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Performers made some tentative moves towards bringing politics to the stage, with Lithuania signing off their song with the command, "Spread love to the world", while Portugal's act said, "Peace will prevail".

At the end of France's performance by Slimane, he said: "United by music, for love and peace, thank you so much."

During an earlier performance he had cut his act short, saying: "Every artist here want to sing about love and sing about peace. We need to be united by music yes but with love for peace. United by music yes but with love for peace".

Meanwhile, Ireland's act Bambie Thug rounded off their performance by saying: "Love will always triumph hate."

Boos and toy fruit

During a cutaway of their team, which was played after all the songs had been performed in a round-up of the acts sat in the 'green room' area onstage, there was a large soft-toy watermelon clearly in the background behind Bambie.

The fruit is widely used as a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.

Earlier this week, the 31-year-old, who is non-binary, said the EBU prevented them from displaying a pro-Palestinian message during their performance during the first semi-final.

There was some audible booing when Israel's Eden Golan performed, and more audible booing when Israel handed out their scores.

But the loudest booing of the night was reserved for the man in charge of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Osterdahl, who was almost drowned out by jeering from the crowd when he first spoke, and then again when he handed out the points for Netherlands.

This year's Eurovision contest has been embroiled in controversy over the last few months, with demonstrations and calls for Israel to be banned due to their actions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

On Thursday, between 10,000 and 12,000 people took part in a pro-Palestinian march through Malmo, the host city.

An unprecedented axing

But on Friday, drama unfolded closer to home when Dutch act Joost - who had been among the favourites to win - was axed over allegations he made verbal threats to a female Eurovision production worker after coming off stage following the second semi-final on Thursday.

Follow live Eurovision updates

It is the first time in Eurovision history that an act has been disqualified after reaching the grand final.

Then on Saturday, Irish contender Bambie Thug did not take part in the final rehearsal for the show, due to "a situation" they said needed "urgent attention" from organisers.

Several presenters scheduled to award the points of their country during the programme, withdrew from the show just hours before it was due to begin, including Finnish singer Kaarij (whose song Cha Cha Cha came second in last year's show) and Norwegian singer Alessandra Mele.

Away from the political overtones the EBU was trying so hard to avoid, Swedish supergroup Abba - the most famous band ever to come out of the contest - were shown in hologram form and performed on stage in London.

The four "Abbatars" as they've been dubbed sang Waterloo, accompanied from the Malmo stage by fellow former winners Conchita Wurst, Charlotte Perrelli and Carola Haggkvist.

'Maybe Eurovision needs a little bit of fixing'

Speaking to reporters after their win, Nemo admitted they had accidentally broken the glass microphone shortly after being presented with it on stage.

Nemo hit out at the EBU's "double standards" when asked about fans reportedly not being allowed to bring non-binary flags into the auditorium, admitting: "I had to smuggle my flag in because Eurovision said no and I did it anyway. I hope some other people did that too... This is clearly like a double standard... I broke the code and I broke the trophy, maybe the trophy can be fixed - maybe Eurovision needs a little bit of fixing too".

They said the experience of performing in Eurovision had been "intense, and not just pleasant all the way," adding that the fact had not been "all about love and unity made them "really sad".

When pressed on how they felt about Dutch act Joost not being in the final, Nemo refused to be drawn, saying, "I don't really know any specifics" so would "refrain from "saying that if I don't have anything smart to say".

However, on their fellow Eurovision finalists, Nemo said they had made "friends for life," adding that they hope to collaborate with some of their fellow acts, and would "love to do a song with Bambie [Thug]".

Next year's contest will be held in Switzerland.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

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Guest Essay

The Cicadas Are Here, Singing a Song for the Future

By Margaret Renkl

Ms. Renkl is a contributing Opinion writer who covers flora, fauna, politics and culture in the American South and reports from Nashville.

For more than a week, I’ve been walking around my yard at night with a UV flashlight, looking for the white glow of cicada nymphs emerging from their exoskeletons. I walk around again in the morning looking for their spent shells clinging to a tree or a stalk of pokeweed. I look for the gentle creatures themselves , their new wings shining in the sunlight. And all the time I am thinking about the turning of the earth, the passing of the years. To think about periodic cicadas is necessarily to contemplate time.

These insects live underground as nymphs for 13 years — or 17, in some broods — sipping sap from the roots of the tree where they hatched. When the right amount of time has passed and the soil temperature eight inches down is just right, the nymphs rise to the surface and climb a tree or flower stem or a stalk of no-mow-May grass.

There they molt and emerge as new beings, creatures that occupy not the darkness but the treetops. Males vibrate a love song. Females quietly click a willingness to mate, later laying eggs on small twigs near the ends of branches. Then the parents die, the eggs hatch, the new nymphs fall to the ground and burrow deep beneath the soil, and the whole magical process starts all over again. I cannot stop watching them climb out of the ground and out of their skins, entering a new shape with gorgeous glittering wings.

In 1998, I was hugely pregnant with my third child when Brood XIX cicadas, the group now emerging in Nashville, began to erupt and fill our trees with music. We nicknamed our newborn Cicada Joe, the baby who emerged into a sunny new world just as millions of cicadas were also emerging into brightness. Our baby became a teenager during the last emergence. This time he is a man. As an ecosystem measures time — and also as a mother measures time — it all happened in a blink.

For the rest of my life, these cicadas will make me think of being so close to giving birth that my swollen feet could fit in no shoes. I was in love with the glorious bounty of these benign creatures climbing into the light. I, too, was bountiful. I, too, was living in a world filled with light and life and the urgency of the future. Our 6-year-old invited a cicada to ride around on his shoulder every time he walked outside. His younger brother’s eyes widened the first time I gently set a cicada on the back of his dimpled toddler hand.

We should all be filled with such wonder.

This year is the first time since 1803 that two different broods of periodic cicadas — up to a trillion of them — are emerging at the same time , though mostly not in the same place . The 13-year Brood XIX will emerge here in the South and the lower Midwest, and the 17-year Brood XIII will emerge in the upper Midwest. (The broods will overlap in only a few places in Illinois.)

Wonder is not always the response they engender. All over this year’s double-brood range, spring brides are trying not to come apart. School administrators are wondering if they should move their commencement ceremonies indoors. Nearly everyone else is needlessly worrying that so many bugs will harm their trees.

“ Cicadas and trees evolved together ,” Joanna Brichetto, a Nashville naturalist and author of the forthcoming book “ This Is How a Robin Drinks: Essays on Urban Nature ,” likes to point out. Any tree that was growing 13 years ago — or 17, in the case of Brood XIII — has already been peacefully coexisting with cicadas for many years. Unless the tree dies or someone cuts it down, tree and cicadas will continue to coexist peacefully. The link between them is so intimate that if the tree dies, the cicada nymphs attached to its roots will also die.

The music will be much softer this year because we have lost so many trees here in Music City during the last 13 years.

It’s true that large trees will lose small clusters of leaves at the joint where the female laid her eggs, but the tree itself will be fine. Don Sudbrink, an entomologist at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., recommends covering very young trees and fruit trees with a fine mesh. But I am not a fruit farmer, and I don’t know what I’m doing with mesh, so I am taking my chances with the cicadas. In this yard, I’m more worried about unintended consequences to baby animals if I wrap my baby trees the wrong way or with the wrong kind of fabric.

I do understand why the spring brides are worried, but I hope they can come to embrace this beautiful and rare phenomenon. For the rest of their lives, they will have a story to tell. And every time the cicadas emerge again, the brides will remember the day they stood with their beloveds beneath the singing trees to celebrate their faith in each other, and in their shared future.

Cicadas neither bite nor sting. They have no way to protect themselves. The great gift of any cicada emergence is abundance, one that ensures the survival of many other creatures. Nearly any kind of wildlife you can think of — birds and squirrels and chipmunks and opossums and skunks and foxes and coyotes and garter snakes and skinks and box turtles and fish and toads and frogs and even the red wasps — will gorge themselves on cicadas.

Many millions of them will nevertheless survive to produce the next generation. The phenomenon is called “predator swamping,” according to Dr. Sudbrink: “The early ones are going to get picked off, but by the time it’s all over, they’ll get through to the next generation in massive amounts — as long as the trees are allowed to live,” he told me in a phone interview. “Keep the trees alive, and you’ll have cicadas again.”

In the fractured, misunderstood and too often persecuted world outside our windows, a cicada emergence is a reminder that we have not yet destroyed it all.

Last week I watched a pregnant squirrel shove a Carolina wren out of the way as she systematically examined each branch of the American holly next to my office window. On the other side of the house the bluebirds were preparing for a future of their own . Well, the female was preparing. While she brought nesting materials to the nest box, her mate was dining on a newly emerged cicada.

Margaret Renkl , a contributing Opinion writer, is the author of the books “ The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, ” “ Graceland, at Last ” and “ Late Migrations .”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

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BLOOMINGTON/MONROE COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES 2024 YOUTH ART/ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

Page last updated on May 10, 2024 at 4:39 pm

For more information, please contact

Michael Shermis, Human Rights Commission Director, Community and Family Resources Department, [email protected] or 812-349-3478. 

Justin Crossley, Digital Brand Manager, Office of the Mayor

[email protected] or 812-349-3406

The Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission today announced the six winners of the 2024 Human Rights Art/Essay Contest. Local students in grades K-6 were asked to write an essay or create a piece of art to answer the question, “What is the most important human right to you, and why?”

The contest was judged by Commissioners Amy Jackson and Stephen Coover (art) and Emma Williams and Autumn Crisovan (essays).

In the art category, first place was awarded to Henry Fehrman, a second grader at Templeton Elementary. Second place went to Harper Burroughs, a sixth grader at Marlin Elementary, while third place was given to William Alhasainat, a first grader at Rogers Elementary. Commissioners Jackson and Coover praised the students’ artistic visions, use of vibrant colors, and expressions of equality and diversity.

In the essay category, first place went to Piper Burroughs, a sixth grader at Marlin Elementary. Second place was awarded to Telly Lotven, a sixth grader at University Elementary who submitted a poem. Third place was given to Phoenix Gordon, a sixth grader at Templeton Elementary. Commissioners Williams and Crisovan congratulated the winners on their creativity and use of research skills.

The students, along with their friends and family members, will be invited to an award ceremony on Monday, May 13 with Mayor Kerry Thomson and the Commission. As their prize, they will receive certificates and WonderLab passes. The ceremony will take place in the City Council Chambers at 401 N. Morton St. from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The Commission offered congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who participated in the contest for sharing their creativity, passion, and commitment to human rights in Bloomington and around the world. 

The mission of the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission is to enforce the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Ordinance in a fair and timely manner, to educate community members about their rights and responsibilities under various civil rights laws and to advocate for changes in policies and law.

Eurovision 2024: Seven contentious moments from Europe’s fabulous singing show

E urovision returns! The singing show, best known for its flamboyant songs and outlandish outfits, has sparked controversies over the years and made headlines for geopolitical arguments on and off the stage.

Here are some of the most contentious moments from Eurovision history.

1968: Spain beat the UK by one point amid rumours of cheating

Cliff Richard narrowly missed out on Eurovision victory when his 1968 entry Congratulations lost by one point to Spain’s Massiel and her song La, la, la.

Rumours spread that Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco had rigged the contest by bribing officials. A 2008 Spanish documentary, directed by Montse Fernandez Vila, investigated claims that TV executives travelled across Europe promising cash and contracts in exchange for votes. Victory was seen as vital to Spain’s image, Fernandez Vila said.

Bjorn Erichsen, a director at Eurovision TV, said he could not “exclude the possibility it might be true”. But he also added: “Franco was really so keen for Spain to win it? We’re not talking about Nato here or the EU.”

1974: Portugal's entry signalled the start of a revolution

When Abba won Eurovision in 1974 with Waterloo, Portugal’s entry And After the Goodbye, performed by Paulo de Carvalho, was used by military officers to covertly signal the start of a coup.

Three weeks after Eurovision took place in the southern English city of Brighton, left-leaning military generals, plotting to overthrow the Estado Novo fascist regime, played And After the Goodbye on local radio stations as a coded message that marked the beginning of Portugal's transition to democracy.

1978: Israel won but Jordan cut the broadcast

Jordan refused to broadcast Israel’s entry Izhar Cohen & The Alphabeta in the 1978 contest held in Paris, cutting to flowers as the pop group’s performance came on air. When it became clear that Israel’s song A-Ba-Ni-Bi was going to win, Jordan cut the broadcast and later claimed Belgium were the winners.

This was the first of four Eurovision wins for Israel. Years later, when the contest was held in Tel Aviv in 2019, Icelandic band Hatari held up Palestine scarves during the voting. Iceland was fined 5,000 euros (£4,300) for breaking Eurovision’s apolitical guidelines.

1998: Dana International received death threats but still won the crown

The 1998 Eurovision contest in Britain saw Dana International crowned the winner despite the death threats she received and efforts to silence her performance. Sharon Cohen, the singer’s offstage name, represented Israel and was the first transgender winner. Dana’s participation in the competition outraged some Orthodox Jews.

However, her song Diva secured an astounding 172 points. She remained unapologetic about her victory, declaring: “My victory proves God is on my side. I want to send my critics a message of forgiveness: try to accept me. I am what I am.”

2008: Ireland ruffles feathers by entering a puppet

Ireland holds the record, alongside Sweden, for the most Eurovision victories, with seven wins each. But a memorable low point came in 2008 when bird puppet Dustin The Turkey was chosen as their Eurovision star.

The entry ruffled feathers with its rendition of Irelande Douze Pointe - a parody of the show’s geopolitical voting system - and failed to make it to the finals. However, Dustin's career continued to fly high with a stint hosting its own programme, Dustin’s Daily News, and appearances on ballot papers in some Irish elections.

2009: Georgia withdrew from the competition over their 'Put In' song

Georgia withdrew from Eurovision 2009 after their song We Don’t Wanna Put In was rejected by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for being too political.

Sung by female trio 3G with male vocalist Stephane, the song appeared to mock Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The artists refused to modify the lyrics or change their entry, choosing to sing at an alternative European music festival over the Eurovision weekend.

2021: Winners Maneskin denied drug-taking allegations

Maneskin, an Italian rock band, won Eurovision in 2021 with their song Zitti e buoni. However, people thought the lead singer used drugs during the show, sparking frenzied online speculation. A camera cut to the band in the green room and frontman Damiano David was seen bending his face towards the table.

The singer denied using drugs. He said he was looking at broken glass. The EBU later revealed David had returned a negative result in a drug test.

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UA Little Rock Students Compete as Finalists in Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Singing Competition

• May 9, 2024
• Whitley Small
• Arts & Culture Featured Homepage News
• No Comments

Two UA Little Rock students are set to take the stage in Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s inaugural singing competition.

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will host its first ever singing competition, “ Arkansas Talent ,” featuring a panel of three renowned Arkansas musicians as judges: Kris Allen, Bonnie Montgomery, and Rodney Block.

From a pool of almost 100 talented auditioners, UA Little Rock’s own Kyndal Collins and Mya Little have made it to the final round, along with four other finalists. The final round will take place May 11-12, and the judges will select two winners from the final contenders.

Collins, a senior vocal performance major at UA Little Rock, boasts a wide array of artistic gifts. Her passions include music composition, playing piano, visual arts, and creative writing. Her stage experience includes solo stage performance, choral performance, and musical theater.

“I am truly honored to have this experience because it is a growth point for me,” stated Collins. “I’ve always been nervous about giving things a go and in the past it has held me back.  However, when the opportunity for this competition came around, I was mentally ready to say, ‘Just give it a try!’ This has taught me that when it comes to something you’re truly passionate about, there is no room for doubt, just action. And even if your ‘just doing’ doesn’t work out, there will always be more opportunities to give it a go again.”

Meanwhile, Little, who balances her studies with her career as an after-school coordinator at Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School, is pursuing a degree in music and is recognized for her versatility as an artist. Her talents have been showcased in the Threepenny Opera and the opera Lo Frate ‘Nnamorato in Urbania, Italy. Her repertoire spans R&B, pop, and classical genres, in addition to her experience in modeling and acting.

“Being in the Arkansas Talent competition has been an absolute honor,” Little remarked. “To be included in the number of talented artists is enough for me.”

Little will sing “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston with ASO on Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Robinson Center, while Collins will perform “O Mio Babbino Caro” from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Gianni Schicchi with ASO on Sunday, May 12, at 3 p.m.

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