Judging is complete, and the results are in for the long-standing Australian Children’s Music Foundation’s (ACMF) National Song writing Competition 2019.
Now in its 17th year, the competition has inspired over 28,000 students across Australia to take the opportunity for self-expression, and enter their original song composition.
ACMF CEO and Founder, Don Spencer says, “Song-writing is a highly creative process. We want children to free their imagination, and engage with learning in a fun way.”
With four categories, and two exciting new awards for students from Year 4 to Year 12 to enter — the calibre, content, and talent behind the songs continue to astound its panel of judges.
This year saw the introduction of two new awards: APRA AMCOS Young Songwriter of the Year; and Songwriting School of the Year. The ACMF are thrilled by the on-going commitment from APRA AMCOS to encourage young songwriters. With the introduction of Songwriting School of the Year, the ACMF emphasise the importance of music education within Australian schooling.
This year’s judging panel met at APRA/AMCOS’ Sydney office this month to review over 80 songs, shortlisted from thousands of submissions nationally. Judges assessed various aspects of each song, including their lyrics, melody, song structure, and originality.
The 2019 competition is sponsored by supporting partner:, APRA AMCOS, Ampal, and oOh! Media. Winners will receive substantial prize money to be put towards music education, tuition and more.
The National Song writing Competition is an extension of what the ACMF achieves through its free music programs – within schools, hospitals, and juvenile justice centres across Australia.
The Foundation inspires creativity and imagination by providing life changing long term music education to disadvantaged children and youth at risk.
The ACMF’s nationwide creative competition comes at a time when the remarkable cognitive benefits of music education, particularly in learning and early-childhood development, are being more publicly recognised and explored.
Winners of the ACMF’s 2019 National Song writing Competition are as follows:
| Category | First | Second | Third | Highly Commended |
| 4 – 6 | Samuel Stephens – ‘Nanna Jean (Taree, NSW) | Claudia Pitts – ‘Tashi Tree (Montrose, VIC) | Gabriella Aarons, and Benjamin Fram – ‘Stuck on the Sidewalk (St Ives, NSW) | Nina Collie – ‘Leadbeater Possum’ (The Patch, VIC) and Jaz Fennell – ‘Kindness’ (Ashmore, QLD) and Yasmin Taunton – ‘Girls have the right to say no’ (Georges Hall, NSW) |
| 7 – 10 | *Ashton Masters – ‘The devil’s play thing’ (Huntleys Point, NSW) | Esme Stripp – ‘All the things I can’t tell you (Brighton East, VIC) | Sophia Angilletta – ‘Piece of my emotion’ (Newtown, NSW) | Bennita Rodda – ‘We are glorious (Maitland, SA) and Teagan Klooger – ‘Teenage Years’ (Werribee, VIC) and Ruby Archer – ‘But they’re only my dreams’ (Erina Heights, NSW) |
| 11 – 12 | **Samantha Timcke – ‘Paper People’ (Adelaide, SA) | Lauren Studley – ‘Falling Again’ (Melbourne, VIC) | Taylah Silvestri – ‘Somehow’ (Adelaide, SA) | Noah Ryland – ‘Leaves’ (Melbourne, VIC) and The Leftovers Band – ‘One in a million’ (Trafalgar, VIC) and Emily Grace – ‘Bad Intentions’ (Adelaide, SA) |
*Also Winner of Allan Kendall Award 2019: A special award for most creative and original across all categories
**Also Winner of APRA AMCOS Young Song writer of the year 2019
| Special Awards | WINNER | |
| Alan Kendall Award 2019 | Yearly special award for most creative and original across competition | Ashton Masters – ‘The Devil’s Play Thing’ (Huntleys Point, NSW) |
| APRA AMCOS Young Song writer of the Year 2019 | Newly introduced award sponsored by APRA AMCOS – $5,000 toward supporting one song writer | Samantha Timcke – ‘Paper People’ (Adelaide, SA) |
| Song writing School of the Year 2019 | Newly introduced award category – $5,000 toward supporting one school music program | St Pius X High School – Unplug and Connect (Adamstown, NSW) |
Unplug and Connect
By Cooper Lloyd and Frankie Parris
Chorus:
What is happening to our world
Society has been all curled
We need to change all of this now
Don’t want to leave this world with a frown
Verse 1
Everybody always looking down at their devices
That is one sign that humans are going through a crisis
We’re thinking why should we consider the feelings of others
This is hurting all your friends, siblings, fathers and mothers.
Get off the screens, it’s now or never,
There isn’t a lot of time to spend together,
Thanks to technology, you’re not being you,
Thanks to technology, you feel more blue.
You find it hard to get outside and fly a kite
You can’t see the whiteboard due to bad eyesight,
An innovative invention has ruined who we are,
We gotta stop this now, we’ve taken it too far.
Chorus:
What is happening to our world
Society has been all curled
We need to change all of this now
Don’t want to leave this world with a frown
Verse 2
When you played outside last, you probably won’t remember
You’ll say something like ‘Oh, maybe last September’
I’ll then say to you ‘You’re not the only one
We need to get outside we need soak up the sun’.
Go to the pool, have a dip in the water
Go with your family, cause you can spend a quarter
Of your day having fun, care free
Do it for yourself, and do it for the
Seven billion people who will follow your actions,
Show the world what you’re made of, just like Michael Jackson,
If you don’t spread your wings, you’re making it hard for yourself,
It will make you happier, it will boost your health.
Chorus:
What is happening to our world
Society has been all curled
We need to change all of this now
Don’t want to leave this world with a frown
Bridge
Trying to hide your emotions
Trying to keep it all in
Hiding away from those special moments
Living like this you feel so broken
Chorus:
What is happening to our world
Society has been all curled
We need to change all of this now
Don’t want to leave this world with a frown