STEP UP! Student Songwriting Contest, A Program of Chords of Courage
Chords of Courage is changing the conversation from the demoralizing and cynical to the hopeful and inspirational - one song at a time. We have created the first songwriting contest of its kind in the world and are conducting it for the second time during the 2018-2019 school year. The contest is currently open to FrederickCounty, MD middle and high school age students and encourages them to use their creativity to write dynamic and powerful songs about people of particular courage. We are inviting other counties to participate in the 2019-2020 school year
Using Songwriting as a Catalyst for Social Change
Winning songs will be presented at the Awards Concert, Sunday, March 17, 2024, 7:00 PM, at Frederick Community College. Award winning singer/songwriters: Heather Aubrey Lloy, Mike Ryan and Coby Siegel will perform the songs of the middle and high school student finalists. Student songwriters will take leadership roles to encourage the audience to join them in acts of STEPPING UP! inspired by the courageous people about whom they wrote their winning songs. It’s a great way to empower teens to be active members of their community and an incredibly profound experience for everyone.
By creating socially conscious songs with youth today,
we help create socially conscious citizens for tomorrow.
We support participating students by offering:
- Free songwriting workshops with accomplished songwriters
- Incredible prizes including Frederick Community College scholarships, cash, music lessons, studio recording and more
- Easy to use website
- Quick response time for students, parents and teachers with questions
- Song subject selection assistance
- Application fee assistance for those students who can’t afford to pay
- and more
These actions promote civil discourse and reinforce our belief in
the power of one song to make a real difference.
We are proud to include among our many partners, sponsors and advocates:
- The Delaplaine Foundation
- The Ausherman Family Foundation
- YMCA of Frederick
- Frederick Community College
- Frederick Children’s Chorus
- Man on the Line, BMI
- Asian American Center of Frederick
- City Youth Matrix
- Spanish Speaking Community of Maryland
- New Spire Arts
- SHIP: Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership
- Great American Song Contest
We are honored that Frederick County Public Schools, while not a sponsor,
strongly encourages student participation to complement academic growth and endeavors.
Chords of Courage is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization making your contribution tax deductible.
Caron Dale, Contest Director, StepUp@ChordsofCourage.org
