Music Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 14 music competitions for high school students. Of these, 5 are free to participate in and 7 offer virtual participation. Examples include ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards, ASCAP Foundation Leiber & Stoller Scholarship for Songwriters, and Aspen Music Festival and School - High School Division.
- 14
- listed
- 5
- free
- 7
- virtual
- 14
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are music competitions for high school students?
- Music Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in music. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 5 of the 14 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 7 of the 14 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are music competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — music competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in music on college applications.
Related Categories
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ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards
Juried national competition recognizing emerging jazz composers ages 13-30 with cash awards, judged on an original score and recording submission.
ASCAP Foundation Leiber & Stoller Scholarship for Songwriters
A national songwriting scholarship for college-bound high school seniors who submit their best original song, awarding $2,500 renewable annually for up to four years of college.
Aspen Music Festival and School - High School Division
One of the most selective summer classical music programs in the country, giving roughly 40-50 accepted high schoolers five weeks of private lessons, chamber coaching, and orchestral performance in Aspen, Colorado.
Bands of America Grand National Championships
America's premier national marching band championship, presented by Music for All at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Open to all high school marching bands, scored 60% music and 40% visual.
BMI Student Composer Awards
A prestigious annual classical music composition competition run by the BMI Foundation, open to student composers under 28, with $20,000 in total awards and a ceremony in New York City.
DownBeat Student Music Awards
A national jazz-education honor from DownBeat magazine open to junior high, high school, and college entries. Students submit instrumental/vocal recordings across performance, composition, arranging, and engineering categories.
Essentially Ellington
National high school big-band jazz competition/festival from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Directors submit recordings of transcribed Ellington and jazz arrangements, and top bands are invited to New York to compete at Frederick P. Rose Hall each May.
Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship
National competition for high school seniors and first-year college students intending to make music central in their future; awards up to $3,000.
MTNA Student Competitions
Among the most prestigious student music competitions in the U.S., with three-tiered state, division, and national finals Performance Competitions (piano, strings, brass, woodwind, voice) plus Composition and Chamber Music competitions, Senior division ages 15-18.
Music Center Spotlight Awards
Large Southern California performing arts competition and training program with $100,000+ in scholarships across categories, including music.
National YoungArts Foundation National Arts Competition
A prestigious national competition for artists ages 15-18 across ten disciplines including visual arts, design, film, jazz, photography, classical music, theater, dance, and voice, with cash awards and mentorship for winners.
National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA)
Carnegie Hall's free, highly selective summer orchestra program for musicians ages 16-19, who complete a multi-week residency with professional musicians and then perform on an international tour.
Sphinx Competition
Annual national competition in Detroit for young Black and Latinx classical string players. Finalists perform with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra and compete for nearly $100,000 in prizes plus mentorship and instrument access.
YoungArts National Arts Competition (Music)
Application-based national award for emerging musicians ages 15-18 in categories including Classical, Jazz, Voice, Popular Voice, and Singer-Songwriter. Winners receive up to $10,000, mentorship, and eligibility for U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.