Winner

"California"

When did you first discover theater/what was your first experience?

I first discovered theater when I began taking musical theater/dance classes at 8 years old. I remember vividly it was the first time I’d ever experienced true self expression and creative freedom, and I fell in love with it. I spent my adolescence learning more about singing/acting through my participation in school plays, musical showcases, and theater company productions, ultimately realizing the special passion I had for music.

When/how did you become a writer? Is there a writer, show, or text that particularly inspired you?

I received my first Taylor Swift album, Speak Now, for Christmas when I was six years old in 2010 and immediately fell in love with the writing. Since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be able to tell stories through words and music like her and the other singer/songwriters I grew up listening to at home. I started writing songs at age 12 and it quickly became my outlet and my escape. Whenever I’d be going through something significant in my life, I would turn to my piano or guitar and start sorting through feelings of confusion, frustration or wonder and finding the words and music to give them expression.

How do you describe your style/work?

Considering how much I’ve been inspired by Nashville-style songwriters, I'd say I gravitate toward writing music with a country influence. I love the storytelling aspect of country music, and I try to incorporate that into most of the music I write. That said, I've been inspired by listening carefully to the songwriting techniques of a wide range of artists including Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Lady Gaga and Adele who bring such unique creativity to their writing.

What is most rewarding to you about writing music?

I love the mystery that unfolds in the creative process. Sometimes I’ll stumble upon a chord progression I love or strum my guitar until a melody pops into my head that I really love. Other times, a lyric will pop into my head and I’ll immediately grab a napkin and a pen and write it down. I have a list of lyrics on my phone that’ll come to me in the middle of the day (most of the time when I’m in class). There are days I’ll clear an afternoon in the hopes of writing a song and I’ll just end up staring blankly at the piano for hours. And then there are days I’ll be sitting in the classroom, writing a test, and an idea I love will pop into my head and I know I need to write it down immediately or forget it. The process follows me everywhere. No two songs are written the exact same way, and you never know when creativity is going to strike. I’m just always chasing the feeling I get after finishing a song I'm proud of.

Winner

"Necromancy"

When did you first discover theater/what was your first experience?

I've been a fan of theater literally since before I can remember; my first musical was when my parents took me to see The Lion King stage show when I was like three years old. It's always been an important part of my life.

When/how did you become a writer? Is there a writer, show, or text that particularly inspired you?

I've been writing music for a long time, but it was almost certainly Rent that inspired me to turn my eyes toward musical theater. Really, it was my friends who encouraged me to pursue theater, receiving feedback from friends with all levels of experience with music, writing, and theater showed me that I could actually do this.

How do you describe your style/work?

I like writing catchy melodies and stories about the desire for connection.

What is most rewarding to you about writing music?

Music is something that brings people together. It brings an artist's ideas to others, it brings together performers with different backgrounds, and it unites an audience in the emotions of the song. It's just a wonderful moment of connection.

Winner

"Self-Portrait"

When did you first discover theater/what was your first experience?

JAR: My first experience with theater was a pivotal moment that shaped my artistic journey. After immigrating to the USA, I found myself drawn to the stage in a high school production of West Side Story.

YK: When I was 8 years old, I participated in an after-school musical theatre class and performed in "Sister Act." I remember the enjoyable and unforgettable moments during rehearsals, singing and acting with my friends.

When/how did you become a writer? Is there a writer, show, or text that particularly inspired you?

JAR: I began writing during my teenage years, drawn to the coming-of-age genre, which remains a constant source of inspiration. I was particularly spellbound by David Nicholls' novel 'One Day', whose lyrical and humorous prose brought characters to life in a way that I strive to emulate in my own writing. The iconic songs from West Side Story, 'Somewhere', and Anais Mitchell's powerful song 'Why do We Build The Wall?' from the musical Hadestown resonated deeply with me, inspiring me to craft stories and songs that capture the complexities and vulnerabilities of the human experience. These influences sparked a passion for writing that has only grown stronger over time.

YK: I saw my first musical, "Jekyll & Hyde" when I was in high school. I was completely captivated by how the musical conveyed stories through music. That was the moment I decided to become a musical theatre composer and began capturing my emotions in music. Since then, composing has become a way for me to express my inner self and communicate with others.

How do you describe your style/work?

Our writing style combines fantastical, larger-than-life characters with real human emotional experiences, delving into the darker aspects of humanity with a touch of humor and irony. Through our stories, we explore themes of redemption, identity, power dynamics, and the human condition, inviting audiences to join us on a journey of self-discovery and growth. With a blend of drama, fantasy, psychological depth, and various musical worlds that our work aims to captivate, inspire, and perhaps even challenge audiences to see the world from new perspectives.

What is most rewarding to you about writing music?

What we find most rewarding about music is its profound ability to evoke powerful emotions and memories, transporting us back to special moments in our lives. Additionally, music plays a significant role in preserving cultural heritage and telling stories of our past, present, and future, which resonates deeply with us. Moreover, its capacity to transcend language barriers and unite people from diverse backgrounds is incredibly rewarding. Through music, we’ve experienced a sense of connection and community that transcends words, and we cherish the way it weaves together our shared human experiences.

Winner

"Fade Away"

When did you first discover theater/what was your first experience?

WS: My first experience with theater was auditioning for my hometown community theater's production of "The Sound of Music." While my dazzling rendition of "Ode to Joy" did not land me a role, my mom was cast as Sister Berthe, and I've cheered her on in many theatrical productions, ever since!

BT: I grew up going to local shows and watching musicals on PBS with my family. I've always loved watching musicals and was a big 'music enthusiast' like my parents. It was only after being a drummer for 7 years that I became interested in writing.

When/how did you become a writer? Is there a writer, show, or text that particularly inspired you?

WS: I've been writing music since I was about 10 years old, with my first songs ambitiously tackling topics such as world peace, and conserving the environment (with hard hitting lyrics such as, "This world, this world... We all live in this world.") As a guitarist, "Spring Awakening" was the first musical I saw that really made me believe I could work in this field, and not only as a singer/songwriter, or supporting musician.

BT: I worked on my first musical when I was 16 with my best friend Leslie. She was the writer and I was the orchestrator. I later wrote a show of my own in undergrad where I took influence from Sound of Music and Andrew Lloyd Webber's shows. My writing is very different now than it was then, but I've always loved ALW's soaring melodies.

How do you describe your style/work?

WS: My writing is often guitar-driven, and pulls from an array of genres, including folk, rock, and contemporary musical theater. As a trans man, a lot of my work includes LGBTQ characters and stories, though the heart of just about every piece is human emotion.

BT: While I have styles I come back to sonically like folk, rock, and classical, I like to think my sound is always changing and growing. It may sound different from song to song but still sounds like me. I think about music in terms of groove and what feels natural, and build off of that with structure and deliberate choices. I also write about subjects that are true to my experience in the hope that through giving a piece of myself, I can reach other people.

What is most rewarding to you about writing music?

WS: To me, writing music is a language, a puzzle, a spiritual practice, and a little bit magic. It's so rewarding to work on a craft that can help people learn, heal, and process life, while using the tools I love the most: instruments and words.

BT: Every step of the process. From the inkling of an idea, to sitting down to write, to seeing an audience respond to it. It's all a blast, especially when you're lucky enough to write with people who make collaborating such a joy.