Winners Revealed For the 2026 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge For High School Students
Winning songs will be performed in concert at New World Stages, with a nationwide watch party available online.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) have announced the winners of the 2025-2026 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students. This program provides student writers with an unparalleled opportunity to develop and showcase original musical compositions that could potentially become part of full-scale musical theater productions. The winning songwriters will travel to New York City this June to work with mentors and refine their songs for a special concert on Monday, June 15, at 7:30pm ET at New World Stages. The concert will also be available to watch nationwide at arts.gov/songwriting and namt.org/challenge.
“Honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, this year's Songwriting Challenge celebrates the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity by shining a spotlight on musical theater. National Endowment for the Arts Chairman, Mary Anne Carter, said “Through their original works, these winning songwriters are helping to shape the future of this uniquely American art form. We are honored to support these students as they continue to develop their craft, share their stories, and contribute to the enduring tradition of musical theater in the United States.”
Betsy King Militello, Executive Director of NAMT, said: “The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students continues to remind us just how much talent, imagination and heart exists in the next generation of musical theater creators. NAMT is thrilled to welcome this year's Winners to New York City for an unforgettable weekend of mentorship and discovery. We are proud to help these young artists deepen their craft and share their voices with audiences from across the country.”
The 2025-2026 Winners:
(grades and schools are as of the 2025-2026 school year)
Izzy Burris, an 11th grade student at Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California
“Where Do You Get Off?” — Two young people deeply in love clash over fear, vulnerability, and the possibility of a future together. As frustration and longing collide, the song captures the tension between hesitation and urgency, ending with neither side willing to give in.
Rett Bush, a 12th grade student at Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek, Georgia
“Welcome to Winter's Edge” — In a not-so-distant future overtaken by endless winter, a sentient robot faces an impossible choice: save himself and abandon humanity's last survivors, or sacrifice everything in the frozen wasteland of Winter's Edge. Set against a heavy metal score, the song explores survival, loyalty, and what it means to be human.
Isaac Goodman, a 10th grade student at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in Cambridge, Massachusetts
“Another Dreamer Down The Hall” — Frank Thurman, a once-promising musical theater songwriter now disillusioned by the industry, finds his quiet Brooklyn apartment disrupted by a young composer who moves in down the hall. As the music grows louder, Frank's irritation reveals something deeper: a painful confrontation with the dreams he left behind.
Liam Liang, an 11th grade student at Crimson Global Academy in Harvard, Massachusetts
“Oh No Gaby”— Beneath her confident exterior, Gaby struggles privately with heartbreak, confusion, and isolation. As the song traces her emotional unraveling from infatuation to disappearance, the repeated refrain “Oh no, Gaby” takes on new meaning with each passing verse.
Merissa Moore, a 12th grade student at Pocono Mountain West High School in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania
“Find Me”— From the imagined musical Set Apart, “Find Me” is sung from the perspective of Samaria, a woman caught between life and death as she searches for her grieving husband in the afterlife. Blending romance, loss, and supernatural imagery, the song explores devotion in the face of unimaginable separation.
James Pumphrey, a 12th grade student at Great River School in Minneapolis, Minnesota
“Am I Doing Enough?” — Jim, a struggling young actor newly arrived in New York City, chases the dream of breaking into the theater industry while grappling with rejection and the fear of falling behind. Set against the backdrop of audition rooms and downtown apartments, the song captures the restless anxiety of early artistic adulthood.
Cameron Steele, a 10th grade student at Riverside High School in Leesburg, Virginia
“Just Gold” — After winning a national track championship, high school athlete Lucas finds himself alienated from his closest friend and competitor. As Lucas struggles with guilt, anger, and the pressure to succeed, the song becomes a powerful reckoning with ambition and self-worth.
Elaina Stuppler, a 12th grade student at Lakeridge High School in Lake Grove, Oregon
“Remote” — Set in 1784, “Remote” imagines Maria Anna Mozart on the morning of her arranged marriage as she reflects on the artistry and independence that she may be forced to leave behind. Through the lens of Mozart's overlooked sister, the song examines gender, expectation and sacrifice in the 18th century.
Excerpts of the winning song submissions and more information about the winners are available here. Over the next several weeks, each of these songs will be professionally orchestrated. Winning students will come to New York City this June where they will work with mentors and musicians to hone their orchestrations while learning about process, technique and production. The final compositions will be performed by Broadway artists in a concert at New World Stages in New York City on Monday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. ET, also available to watch live and on-demand at arts.gov/songwriting and namt.org/challenge. In addition, each winning student will receive a scholarship of $2,500, provided by the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation.
The 2026 Music Team will be overseen by Music Supervisor Dylan Glatthorn and Music Director Anessa Marie Scolpini. The winning songs will be orchestrated by Faye Chiao, Teresa Lotz and Anessa Marie Scolpini. The winning students will be mentored by Rebecca Hart, Rob Rokicki and Melvin Tunstall III. The concert casting director is Michael Cassara, CSA. More information about the Songwriting Challenge mentors is available here.
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