Winners will be featured in a BPC show April 26. Description:
An annual Musical-Theater Songwriting contest open to Berklee students and alumni, Curtain Up presents award-winning songs in concert at the Berklee Performance Center (BPC), orchestrated for full band by Curtain Up student-arrangers. Electronic deadline: e-mail by 11:59pm DECEMBER 31, 2021
Submission requirements:
1) Songs may be sub
mitted by Berklee students and alums. Current students: submit up to three songs per composer/lyricist
Alums: submit one song
Collaborations encouraged
2) Contest entry form: https://forms.gle/PNnVPh8Cop3VT9ep8
3) For each song, submit the following:
• Pdf of Lead sheet or Piano/Vocal Score (melody, lyrics, chord symbols, tempo and other performance instructions)
• Pdf of Lyrics including a brief (one paragraph) description of the song's dramatic context -- what you imagine happening in the scene -- and if applicable, describe the show it is from
•audio file (mp3 or mp4) of vocal demo (must use real singers)
6) All co-writers must “approve” the submission of the song (see the approval section of the entry form). FAQ’s
• What is a theater song? We’re looking for songs that are sung by characters in specific situations, that either could be imagined as part of a longer musical theater piece, or actually are part of a longer musical theater piece.
• What kind of songs are you looking for? Uptempo and comic songs float to the top! We also love group numbers. Visit our channel to catch the vibe of past concerts: http://www.youtube.com/curtainupberklee
• How many songs may I submit? Each student writer may be represented on up to three song submissions. This includes any submissions made by collaborators. For instance, if your co-writer submits two songs that bear your name as well, you may only submit one more on your own. Berklee alums may submit one song.
• What criteria will the judges use to choose the songs? In addition to judging the craft of music and lyrics, we will be asking the following questions:
- Is the song interesting in a theatrical way? Does it tell a story, illustrate a situation?
- Does the lyric paint the point of view of a character and/or a dramatic situation, in a clear and compelling way?
- Does the music evoke the character, time, place, setting?
- Does the piece help add to the variety desired for this concert? (up tempo and/or comic songs are a plus!)
• What if I want to sing the winning songs with a full band on the BPC stage? contact Debo Ray and David Reiffel: [email protected] and [email protected] to audition for ENVC-370 Musical Theater Ensemble
• What if I want to play in the BPC stage band? contact Jeri [email protected]
• to see concert excerpts from 2010-2020, visit http://www.youtube.com/curtainupberklee
• to read an article about the first Curtain Up, visit http://www.berklee.edu/news/1759/curtain-up
Questions about:
• CW-257 Musical Theater Arranging and Orchestration, contact [email protected]
• SW345 and SW445, Musical Theater Writing 1 & 2, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
• SW-461, Writing the Film Musical, contact [email protected]
• ENVC-370 Musical Theater Ensemble - perform the winning songs with full band on the BPC stage, for credit!
• joining the Curtain Up stage band - contact [email protected]
• I have a question you haven’t answered yet. E-mail [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]
