International Song Contest for Students - Never Such Innocence

Never Such Innocence (NSI) is excited to invite young musicians and songwriters from around the world to participate in the 2024/25 Song Competition, as part of the third year of the "Conversations on Conflict" programme. This year’s theme is How Can We Prevent Future Wars? Participants are encouraged to reflect on how individuals, communities, and nations can work together to prevent future conflicts. Through the universal language of music, young creators have the opportunity to express their thoughts, emotions, and ideas on this vital topic.

Key Details of the Competition:

• Theme: How Can We Prevent Future Wars?
• Age Categories:
  • Age 9-11
  • Age 11-14
  • Age 14-16
  • Age 16-18
    The crossover of ages ensures that children in the same school year compete on a level playing field. Categorisation will be at NSI’s discretion based on the entry form.

Song Guidelines:

• Length: Songs must be no longer than 4 minutes.
• Originality: Songs must be the contestant’s own work and should not infringe any copyrights or the rights of third parties. Songs created using AI will not be accepted.
• Judging Criteria: Songs will be judged based on their melody, composition, originality, and lyrics (where applicable). The quality of production will not be considered.
• Rights: Contestants will retain the rights to their original material, but by submitting, participants grant NSI a license in perpetuity to play and share the song. If the song generates revenue, the creator will receive a share.
• Language: Songs can be written in any language.
• Format: Songs should be either typed or legibly handwritten.
• Submission: Please include both a video or audio recording of your song and the written lyrics.

Submission Process:

• Entry Fee: There is no entry fee for the competition.
• Multiple Entries: Contestants may enter more than one category (for example, a song and a poem), but only one entry per category is permitted.
• Anonymised Judging: All entries will be anonymised using a unique entry number to ensure fair judging. Only the title should appear on the submission, with other personal details provided on the entry form.

Timeline:

• Competition Opens: 20th September 2024
• Competition Deadline: 28th February 2025
• Winners Notified By: 1st May 2025

For participants aged 15 and under, submissions must be made by an adult (e.g. parent, guardian, or teacher). The adult submitting the entry must agree to NSI’s competition rules via the online or physical entry form.

This competition is an incredible opportunity for young musicians and songwriters to make their voices heard on a global platform. Through their music, participants can contribute to the ongoing conversation on how we can create a world without war. NSI encourages young people to express their creativity, passion, and ideas through their songs.

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