National Concerts, composer J.D. Frizzell, and poet Charles Anthony Silvestri are joining forces to lift up the voices of tomorrow!  If you are a poet between the ages of 16 and 22, you can submit one or more of your poems for consideration to be set to music and orchestration to be premiered at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2025.

The theme of the major work is “Empowering Uniqueness”.  In a world of photoshop, social media, and artificial intelligence, the pressure to be someone you are not is greater than ever.  This major work will celebrate the power of diverse perspectives, experiences, cultures, and appearances—it will celebrate that each of us is inexorably one-of-a-kind.

Poets between the ages of 16 and 22 are invited to submit one or more poems that fit the theme.  Up to five poets will have their work chosen for inclusion in the major work.  Led by Charles Anthony Silvestri, the selection committee is made up of prominent poets, composers, and conductors from around the country.

Winning poets will receive a $500 USD prize and a private masterclass with Charles Anthony Silvestri to workshop their poem and prepare it for being set to music.  Winners will retain full rights and ownership to their work.  Please note that travel expenses surrounding the premiere performance are NOT included in the prize should the winning poets wish to attend.

Winning poets agree to grant full buyout rights to the composer in exchange for the award money.  Winning poet also agrees to work with Dr. Silvestri to adjust and adapt their poem for musical purposes.

The submission deadline is November 1, 2023.  The winning poets will be notified by December 15, 2023.