Nashville Student Wins NEA 2020 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge
From Victoria Hutter, National Endowment for the Arts –
The National Endowment for the Arts with the American Theatre Wing announced the winners of the 2020 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, which includes Joseph Mosby from Nashville, TN for his song, “Light Breaks Through the Dark.”
A senior at Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School, Mosby summarizes his song writing, “Every few generations, a special storm brews over the region of Truden that creates the mythical bluestone which gives its holder the ability to draw energy and power from their surroundings. Although a bluestone hasn’t appeared in decades and many doubt its existence, Korin, a slightly deranged researcher, believes an impending storm will yield such a stone. With it, he can liberate himself, his family and his people from the tyrannical king. But Korin’s plan reaches the ear of the king who throws him in jail. However, also in the prison is Fleming who has been hired to repair the prison’s clock. Fleming harbors dreams of saving his people too which Korin tries to incite, urging Fleming to overcome his fear and release him from prison so they can go off in search of the bluestone together.”
Through mentorships with professional musical theater artists, the Songwriting Challenge seeks to cultivate the next generation of musical theater songwriters from among the country’s high school students. Program collaborators are; Disney Theatrical Productions, Concord Theatricals, and the S.O.N.G.S. Foundation of the National Music Publishers’ Association.
The Songwriting Challenge provides each winner with a two-person coaching team—a mentor and a music director—to hone an original song into a Broadway-ready composition. Each song is then recorded by Broadway musicians and vocalists in New York City, made available on streaming music platforms, and compiled into a songbook by Concord Theatricals.
This year’s third annual program is changing to meet the challenges and opportunities of the moment. All mentoring will take place virtually and the recording sessions will be a combination of in-person and virtual. Additionally, shifting all mentoring to video conferencing has released funds previously dedicated to travel which has allowed the program to double the number of winners to 12.
“These talented young people and the varying styles and themes of their songs speak to the energizing diversity of our country,” said Arts Endowment Chairman Mary Anne Carter. “Offering this life-changing opportunity to more young artists this year is especially exciting and I look forward to following their progress and listening to their songs.”
“Despite the challenges the arts community has faced in 2020, we are committed to continuing to provide opportunities for the next generation of artists to express their creativity and tell their story,” said Heather Hitchens, American Theatre Wing President & CEO. “The Songwriting Challenge allows the chance for young songwriters to be seen, to be heard, and to form lifelong relationships with Broadway professionals. It is my hope that these winners will develop into artists whose talent drives social change, shifts our perceptions, and transforms the way we think.”
