COMPETITIONS

Play It Strange presents a cover art competition to celebrate all creatives at New Zealand secondary schools. This competition seeks artwork for the front cover of the annual Play It Strange Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition album. This competition is open to year 9-13 students.

The winner of this year's competition is Bryn Trainor of Bayfield High School in Dunedin with his piece titled "Circle". He received a $300 voucher and his work is featured on the cover of the 2023 Play It Strange Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition Album.

A second place prize was awarded to Jessica Botha with her painting, "Woman at Work”. Jessica attends Kingsway School at Red Beach.

The Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition is the Play It Strange flagship competition for New Zealand secondary school students Years 9 to 13.  Write your song about anything you want and in any language. 

The recording and performance quality of the entry is not taken into account in the judging process.

1st Place receives a $1,000 voucher from the Rockshop

The prize for ALL FINALIST songs chosen is a day in a professional recording studio to record your song for the annual digital album
ALSO a $50 Rockshop voucher and a certificate

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For this competition, the theme of peace and non-violence may be interpreted broadly from inner personal peace, peace in the home and among families, to peace between people of the world.  

The lyrics of the entry are focussed on intimately.  The title of the original song does not have to be "The Peace Song".  The recording and performance quality of the entry is not taken into account in the judging process

1st Place receives a $1,000 voucher from the Rockshop

ALL finalists had their song recorded in a professional recording studio (one day to the value of $750 plus gst) to go on the 2023 Peace Song digital album.

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This competition focused on secondary school-aged songwriters, years 9 to 11, with the theme weaving the lives they lead through the lyrics. 

The recording and performance quality of the entry is not taken into account in the judging process.

The 2023 competition had a FIRST, SECOND and THIRD place chosen from 45 finalists across Aotearoa New Zealand.

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1st Place receives a $500 Rockshop voucher
2^nd and 3^rd Place receive a $100 Rockshop voucher

ALL finalists had their song recorded in a professional recording studio (one day to the value of $750 plus gst) to go on the 2023 Youthtown Songwriting Competition Aotearoa digital album.