Tesoro High School freshman Vivian Murray records an original idea in the studio at OC Music & Dance during the Fender Play songwriting workshop on Sept. 20.
Quick look: Orange County high school students can submit original songs for the USA 250-OC Theme Song Competition, with top entries earning $500 cash prizes. Supported by Fender, Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine, winning songs will be performed at a countywide July 4, 2026 celebration.
High school musicians in Orange County still have time to submit original songs inspired by the nation’s 250th anniversary, with increased cash prizes for the top entries.
Organizers of the USA 250-OC Theme Song Competition: Celebrating America’s 25th Anniversary Through Song have announced that each genre winner will now receive a $500 cash prize, thanks to support from community partners.
The contest — a collaboration between USA 250 Orange County, OC Music & Dance and the Orange County Department of Education — invites local students in grades nine through 12 to compose and perform original songs that honor the founding of the United States. Entries must run 250 seconds or less — that’s 4 minutes and 10 seconds — and fit one of eight genres: pop/adult contemporary, rock, hip-hop/rap, country, jazz, R&B/soul, folk or classical.
Students may enter individually or as part of a team of up to three, with each member contributing to the songwriting contest.
New this month, the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, through the Fender Play Foundation, has joined the effort by providing adjudicators and contributing prizes for winning entries. Additional adjudicators will come from Cal State Fullerton and the University of California, Irvine.
The top song in each category will be performed life at a countywide July 4, 2026 celebration, and composers will have the opportunity to copyright their work. All submissions must be original and free of copyrighted content, including works created with AI or adapted from existing music.
Entries are due by Nov. 30. More information is available at link.ocde.us/usa-250-oc.