The Songs of a Young Nation Competition

From the Revolution to Reconstruction, America’s first century (1770–1877) was filled with triumph, turmoil, and transformation. Your task is simple but exciting: create a song that bridges generations, connecting today’s listeners to the emotions, struggles, and aspirations of the people who shaped our nation. Your song can reimagine a piece from the period or be an entirely new composition inspired by it. Whatever your approach, let your music illuminate the past and inspire hope for America's future.

The Categories

• Best Historical Treatment: Reimagine the music of 1770–1877. Take a ballad, hymn, march, or folk song from the era and make it speak to today. Whether you stay true to its roots or spin it into something entirely new, show us how old notes can carry fresh meaning.
• Best New Composition: Write an original piece inspired by America’s first century. Let the stories of Revolution, abolition, war, and rebirth shape your sound. This award celebrates new music that channels the spirit of the era while speaking powerfully to the present.
• Best Performance: Deliver a performance that brings the past roaring to life. This category honors standout vocals or instrumentals — the energy, feeling, and artistry that makes an audience sit up and listen.
• Best Use of Historical Instruments: Celebrate the sounds of the past in a modern performance. Whether it’s a fiddle, fife, banjo, drum, or other instrument of the era, this award recognizes creativity in weaving authentic sounds into a compelling piece.

Submissions can be in any genre: folk, traditional American, classical, country, hip-hop, electronic, rock, solo vocal performance — even mashups that fuse past and present.

The contest is open to ALL musicians ages 15 to 30 — including high school and college students, as well as young independent, unsigned artists. This is your stage to do something bold, fresh, and exciting: to take the stories of America’s first century and make them resonate for today. Can you turn history into music that moves us? Let’s find out!

Enter now – upload your song

First, decide your path. Will it be a new composition or a reinterpretation of historic music? Either way, think about what you want to say about why the American Revolution matters.

• If you choose to reinterpret a historic song, focus on music from 1770 to 1877 — the era of Revolution through Reconstruction. Explore rich archives like the Library of Congress’s Music Division’s online collections, or dive our Artist Resources & Inspiration page for resources from the Cherokee Nation, the University of Texas, and others. These sources are full of voices and melodies waiting to be rediscovered and reimagined.
• If you decide to write a new piece, let the stories of America’s first century guide you. Capture the hope, conflict, resilience, or yearning that defined those formative decades, and translate those emotions into song. Use your creativity to give voice to the past while speaking powerfully to the present.
• Looking for more inspiration? Visit our Artist Resources & Inspiration page for more!

Once you are happy with your music selection, record it and mix your most polished and professional-sounding audio track. Your entry can only be 60-90 seconds long, so choose the best part of your composition or reinterpretation carefully. There is a short form and upload tool below—be sure to fill it out completely to upload your song.

Each entry must conform to the following technical specifications:

• Each participant is allowed only one submission. Submit your best work, as additional entries will not be considered.
• Audio submissions should be between 60 and 90 seconds in length.
• Make sure your file is in one of the accepted formats (e.g., MP3, WAV or OGG) to ensure compatibility with our system.
• File must not exceed 10 MB in size.
• Do not submit images or videos. Submissions that include images or videos will be rejected without review.

It's that simple. Our judges will take it from there. Winners will be notified in January 2025 and announced on February 22, 2025. 

Have questions about the competition? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page and see our Official Rules too.

Ready? Enter the competition now