2014 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition

APRA AMCOS, Alberts and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia (NRMTA) are pleased to announce that entries for the 2014 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition – the largest charity songwriting competition in the world – are now open.

With thanks to Alberts and APRA AMCOS, this year’s winning songwriter/s will take home a cash prize of $50,000 and join the illustrious company of past Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition winners – Megan Washington (2009), Kimbra (2011) and The Preatures (2013).

Three runners’ up, cash prizes are also on offer with second place receiving $10,000 thanks to AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association) and third place taking home $5,000 courtesy of new sponsor, AEG Ogden.

This year’s competition will also include the Encouragement Award with a cash prize of A$2,000 which has been graciously donated by last year’s winners, The Preatures.

The Preatures’ Isabella Manfredi said today, “Winning the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition was such a huge leg up for us, and we wanted to show our thanks and support by helping the next wave of applicants with this encouragement award.”

The Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition is one of the world’s most prestigious songwriting competitions in the world, supporting talented songwriters whilst raising much needed funds for music therapy that has been proven to help people with developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rett Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome and disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Dyspraxia and Spina Bifida.

The competition is open to songwriters worldwide with each applicant paying an entry fee of A$50.00 per submission with money raised going directly to supporting Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia.  To date, the Vanda & Young Song Competition has raised over $485,000 for NRMTA over the past three competitions.

The 2014 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition will be judged by a panel of songwriters and industry professionals. Entries close September 22.  For more information please visit www.apraamcos.com.au/vandayoungsongcomp