Open for entry Thursday 1 February 2024
Entry will close at 5pm on Friday 24 May 2024.
Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.
This competition focuses on secondary school-aged songwriters, years 9 to 11, with the theme "weaving the lives they lead" through the lyrics.
Enter the competition by submitting your details, a recording of your song and the lyric sheet. This year's competition will be judged by Mike Chunn and guest judge Marlon Williams. The recording and performance quality of the entry is not taken into account in the judging process.
1st place receives a $500 Rockshop gift card
2nd and 3rd place receive a $100 Rockshop gift card
ALL finalists will have their song recorded in a professional recording studio (one day to the value of $800 plus gst) to go on the 2024 Youthtown Songwriting Competition digital album.
Open for entry Thursday 1 February 2024
Entry will close at 5pm on Friday 24 May 2024.
Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.
2023
1st place: "Out of My Mind" - Rachel Stevens, Otumoetai College
2nd place: "Wounds & Shoulds" - Piper Grant, home school
3rd place: "Freak" - Vinny Haynes, Ollie Sutcliffe, Oliver Spence, Nathan Brown & Tallulah Haynes, Papamoa College
2022
1st place: "Sugar and Spice" - Naimah Manchanda, Lynfield College
Region 1: "Streetlights" - Leigh Edmeades, Albany Senior High School
Region 2: "Ka Hoki Nei Au" - Arohea Pewhairangi, Omaio Waititi, Mahara Kururangi, Honore Ingle, Ihaka Hongara, Waiururangi Maxwell, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Horouta Wananga
Region 3: "Endless Time" - Jenny Petegem-Thach, Jazz Mackie, Taieri College
Open for entry Thursday 1st of February 2024
Entry will close at 5pm on Sunday 30 June 2024.
Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.
Enter this competition by submitting your details, a recording of your song and the lyric sheet.
For the Peace Song Competition, the theme of peace and non-violence may be interpreted broadly from inner personal peace, peace in the home and among families, to peace between people of the world.
The lyrics of the entry are focused on intimately. The title of the original song does not have to be "The Peace Song". The recording and performance quality of the entry is not taken into account in the judging process.
1st place receives a $1,000 gift card from the Rockshop.
All finalists will have their song recorded in a professional recording studio (one day to the value of $800 plus gst) to go on the 2024 Peace Song digital album.
Open for entry Thursday 1st of February 2024
Entry will close at 5pm on Sunday 30 June 2024.
Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.
2023
"Fireflies" - Dani Leonie, Alice Tehaki & Sara Iese Leiataua, Papatoetoe High School, Auckland
2022
"Te Aroha" - Tetini Pokoati and Ripeka Akurangi, Gisborne Girls' High School
Open for entry Thursday 1 February 2024.
Entry will close at 5pm on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.
The Play it Strange National Secondary School Songwriting Competition is the flagship competition for New Zealand secondary school students Years 9 to 13. Write your song about anything you want and in any language.
Enter the competition by submitting your details, a recording of your song and the lyric sheet. The recording and performance quality of the entry is not taken into account in the judging process.
1st place receives a $1,000 gift card from the Rockshop.
The prize for all finalist songs chosen is a day in a professional recording studio (one day to the value of $800 plus gst) to record your song for the annual digital album
plus a $50 Rockshop voucher and a certificate.
Open for entry Thursday 1 February 2024.
Entry will close at 5pm on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
Please read the Terms and Conditions before entering.
2023 1st place - "Will you love me?" by Grace Gemmell, Bayfield High School
2023 Play It Strange School of the Year Award - Gisborne Girls’ High School & Papatoetoe High School
2023 David Richwhite Lyric Award - "Smoking" by Olive Mortimer, Rangitoto College
2023 Junior Maioha Award - "E tū ngā tāngata" by Lovinia Pluck, Nayland College
2022 1st place - "Differently Now" by Grace Lawrence, St Andrew’s College
2022 Play It Strange School of the Year Award - Gisborne Girls’ High School
2022 David Richwhite Lyric Award - "Drowning In The Stars" by Chris Rowe, Kaipara College
2022 Junior Maioha Award - "Te Rewanga o Matariki" by Taniko Rangihau, Gisborne Girls' High School
Open for entry Thursday 1 August 2024.
Entry will close at 5pm on Monday 31 August 2024.
Play It Strange presents a cover art competition to celebrate all creatives at New Zealand secondary schools. This competition seeks artwork for the front cover of the annual Play It Strange Lion Foundation National Secondary School Songwriting Competition album. This competition is open to year 9-13 students. Enter the competition by submitting your details and a digital file of your artwork. Artwork should be in a square format, with space for logos and the album title.
Open for entry Thursday 1 August 2024.
Entry will close at 5pm on Monday 31 August 2024.
2023
1st place - Bryn Trainor "Circle", Bayfield High School, Dunedin
2nd place - Jessica Botha "Women at Work", Kingsway School, Red Beach
2022
Alia Cauty "Conspiranoid", Long Bay College, Auckland