The Mercury Theatre Colchester and Perfect Pitch have announced the winners of their songwriting contest launched by Tim Minchin as part of their Mercury Online season.
Asked to submit an “I Want” song, the Songwriting Competition aimed to nurture the musical talents of songwriters of all ages and experience in writing for musical theatre.
Hundreds of entries were submitted, undergoing the judging process by the Mercury Theatre team, and Wendy and Andy Barnes from Perfect Pitch.
DRUM ROLL PLEASE …
THE WINNERS OF THE MERCURY / PERFECT PITCH SONGWRITING CONTEST 2020 ARE:
@aunty_willy, MILLIE MILLINGTON & JOSEPH RILEYwith their song
ALONE
Performed by Joseph RileyFull song here: https://t.co/mWXwGdvwYZ#MercurySongwriters @perfectpitch pic.twitter.com/0BYUpD23eW
— Mercury Theatre (@mercurytheatre) June 12, 2020
The winning entry, receiving £500 prize money, was sent in by Willy Mukendi, Joseph Riley & Millie Millington whose song “Alone” was inspired by the Covid-19 Lockdown. This new trio decided to work together to create their song from three separate parts of the UK. Willy runs the UK’s largest musical theatre fan Facebook page, MTAS and is currently in the process of writing her third musical. Joseph, whose vocals can be heard on the song is a first-year student at Trinity Laban and Millie has been a music educator, practitioner and performer for nearly 30 years.
Jade North, aged 16 and based in Colchester receives the Voice of the Future award for her entry “Say My Name” inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, she receives a £250 prize. The joint runners up include Carlo Bosticco & Matt Randall with “My Own Other Half”, Earl Marrows & Sam Norman with “The Greats” and Isla van Tricht & Guy Woolf with “My Turn”, each pair win £150 for their entries.
Wendy & Andy Barnes of Perfect Pitch said: “It was a tough decision for us all to agree on a single winner as there were so many great entries submitted, but we all feel “Alone” stood out. Thank you to everyone who took the time to create something new, we could see the care and thought that had gone into the songs. We look forward to the moment when we can all get back in our theatres and share more new songs and musicals with each other.”
READ MORE ABOUT THE COMPETITION
WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE MERCURY THEATRE / PERFECT PITCH VOICE OF THE FUTURE AWARD GOES TO:@jadenorthmusic
with her song
SAY MY NAME
For the full song: https://t.co/UaAaRlX7oX#MercurySongwriters @perfectpitch pic.twitter.com/3FhMcS8flG
— Mercury Theatre (@mercurytheatre) June 11, 2020
OUR THIRD RUNNERS UP IN THE MERCURY THEATRE / PERFECT PITCH SONGWRITING CONTEST ARE:
@Islavt13 and @GuyWoolfwith their song
MY TURN
Performed by Eleanor JacksonFor the full song: https://t.co/KdRG3RRODq#MercurySongwriters @perfectpitch pic.twitter.com/bOqBTDfiSd
— Mercury Theatre (@mercurytheatre) June 10, 2020
OUR SECOND RUNNERS UP IN THE MERCURY THEATRE / PERFECT PITCH SONGWRITING CONTEST ARE:
EARL MARROWS and SAM NORMAN
with their song
THE GREATS
Performed by Trevor Bunce
#MercurySongwriters @perfectpitch
For the full song: https://t.co/DrgkRl46sD pic.twitter.com/2jqb1sMpPS— Mercury Theatre (@mercurytheatre) June 9, 2020
OUR FIRST RUNNERS UP IN THE MERCURY THEATRE / PERFECT PITCH SONGWRITING CONTEST ARE:
CARLO BOSTICCO and MATT RANDALL @bosticcorandall
with their song
MY OWN OTHER HALF
Performed by Courtney Basset#MercurySongwriters @perfectpitch
For the full song: https://t.co/NchwcM8Flv pic.twitter.com/o5RVwUlfTJ— Mercury Theatre (@mercurytheatre) June 8, 2020
MERCURY SONGWRITING WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Each day this week we will announce 1 of the 5 winners in the categories of:
JOINT RUNNERS UP
VOICE OF THE FUTURE
OVERALL WINNERWatch this space today for our FIRST RUNNER UP!#MercurySongwriters @perfectpitch pic.twitter.com/GFxJVAHQbk
— Mercury Theatre (@mercurytheatre) June 8, 2020
