The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT)\u00a0have announced the winners of their 2025-2026 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The winning songwriters will travel to New York City to work with mentors and refine their songs for a special concert on June 15 at New World Stages. The concert will also be available to stream at Arts.gov<\/a> and NAMT.org<\/a>.\u00a0In addition to the mentorship and concert, each winning student will receive a scholarship of $2,500, provided by the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation.<\/p>\n \u201cHonoring the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, this year\u2019s Songwriting Challenge celebrates the nation\u2019s rich artistic heritage and creativity by shining a spotlight on musical theatre” said National Endowment for the Arts Chairman, Mary Anne Carter. \u201cThrough their original works, these winning songwriters are helping to shape the future of this uniquely American art form. We are honored to support these students as they continue to develop their craft, share their stories, and contribute to the enduring tradition of musical theatre in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2025-2026 winners are\u00a0Izzy Burris, an 11th\u00a0grade student at Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California, with the song\u00a0\u201cWhere Do You Get Off?;”\u00a0Rett Bush, a 12th\u00a0grade student at Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek, Georgia, with the song\u00a0\u201cWelcome to Winter’s Edge;”\u00a0Isaac Goodman, a 10th\u00a0grade student at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with the song\u00a0\u201cAnother Dreamer Down the Hall;” Liam Liang, an 11th\u00a0grade student at Crimson Global Academy in Harvard, Massachusetts, with the song\u00a0\u201cOh No Gaby;”\u00a0Merissa Moore, a 12th\u00a0grade student at Pocono Mountain West High School in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, with the\u00a0song\u00a0\u201cFind Me;”\u00a0James Pumphrey, a 12th\u00a0grade student at Great River School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the song\u00a0\u201cAm I Doing Enough?;”\u00a0Cameron Steele, a 10th\u00a0grade student at Riverside High School in Leesburg, Virginia, with the song\u00a0\u201cJust Gold;” and\u00a0Elaina Stuppler, a 12th\u00a0grade student at Lakeridge High School in Lake Grove, Oregon, with the\u00a0song\u00a0\u201cRemote.”<\/p>\n