Contest Info

Annual Young Songwriters Contest held by the Dallas Songwriters Association to provide a benchmark for popular songwriting competency. Entrants must be 18 years of age and under. All genres of music are accepted.
JUDGES: Entries will be judged by music industry professionals.

DSA is CELEBRATING 32 YEARS IN 2019
MOTIVATING & UPLIFTING SONGWRITERS THROUGH EDUCATION

Thursday, January 29, 2026

LEXI LEE GAMBLE IS OUR YOUNG SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR FOR 2025

 
  

Amazing 14 year old Lexi Lee Gamble is DSA’s Young Songwriter Of The Year with her song “Back When We Were Young.” In addition, her song “Like Me” was the first runner up in our Young Songwriters Contest.

Lexi’s real name is Alexandra Lee Gamble, and she is an emerging American-Romanian singer and songwriter.  Lexi is an 8th-grade Honors student at Greenhill School, lives in Dallas, and spends a good portion of her summers in Europe to embrace her family heritage and culture. Her favorite music genres are pop and R&B, but her style continues to evolve as she develops her artistry and finds her authentic voice.

As a child who has always loved music, Lexi began exploring music at the age of four and has immersed herself in it ever since. She is a multi-instrumentalist who plays piano and taught herself guitar before taking professional classes. She also explored violin through her school orchestra program. Lexi recorded her first original song at the age of 12 and has been developing her repertoire as she builds toward releasing her debut album. In both 2024 and 2025, Lexi was recognized as “One-To-Watch” by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), as part of their “Ears” program. She is also a long-standing member of the Dallas Symphony Children’s Chorus, with whom she has performed in multiple concerts alongside the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Music is more powerful when it creates a real positive impact in the world, and Lexi regularly uses her talent to just that!  Throughout the years, Lexi has participated in numerous charitable projects focused on the health and well-being of children. In 2024, Lexi performed at the “Light the Night” Gala for the DFW Angels, an organization that raises money for children in foster care.  In 2025, she performed at the Educational First Steps Gala, sponsored by George and Laura Bush, supporting their efforts to raise more than $1 million for early childhood education.  Currently, Lexi serves as the Engagement and Inclusion Chair for the National Charity League, N. Dallas Chapter.

To honor the work that she has done in the music and charity fields at such a young age, DSA has made Lexi our Student Ambassador and extended an invitation for her to perform at our Hall of Fame event in April. Lexi has also earned $150 for winning first and second place in the contest. DSA will also award her $500 when she enrolls in the college music program of her choice.

This incredible teen has accomplished a great deal for her age. Keep an eye on her and follow her future endeavors by following Lexi on Facebook and Instagram - @lexileegamble - and cheer for her as she brings new music and inspiration into the world.  Congratulations, Lexi!

Monday, June 2, 2025

Dallas Songwriters Young Songwriters Contest Now Open for Entries: Deadline Sept 30

 DSA Young Songwriters Contest

Presented by the Dallas Songwriters Association for student entrants 18 and under

  Dallas Songwriters Association has a mission to mentor and recognize young performing songwriter talent. The Dallas Songwriters Association’s Young Songwriters Contest offers winner a $100 cash prize or a chance to win a $500 scholarship, a membership in the Dallas Songwriters Association and a performance spot on the Dallas Songwriters Awards Program in January 2025, plus various other showcase opportunities in 2025 in our Songwriters Spotlight series at local venues and festivals stages. Our judges are industry pros. Entry fee: $15. Deadline: Sept 30.



All Genres are accepted

Entry Fee $15
Deadline: Friday, Sept 30th
Submissions Close at Midnight. 


Enter Online 

OR ENTER BY MAIL please include an email and phone number
Mail your check and entries to:
Dallas Songwriters Association
Young Songwriters Contest Director
Sammons Center For The Arts
3630 Harry Hines Blvd. #20
Dallas, Texas 75219
(voicemail) 214-302-9502

MAIL IN ENTRIES MUST BE POST MARKED BY Sept 30th.
 or you can mail your CD and pay with check or online at our DSA store with credit card or Paypal. https://dallas-songwriters-association.square.site/product/young-songwriters-contest/23?cs=true
Song Contest Rules

Important Dates
Submission Deadline: Sept 30
Semi-Finalists Announced: Nov 13, 2025

Finalists and Grand Prize Winners Announced: Jan 17, 2026

EMMA JAMES OUR YOUNG SONGWRITER WINNER FOR 2024


EMMA JAMES OUR YOUNG SONGWRITER WINNER

Emma James is our 2024 Young Songwriter winner with her song, Growing Pains.  Her song “Broken” came in second place. In 2022, Emma was first runner up in DSA’s Young Songwriters Contest and she won first place in 2023.

Emma is a Texas born and raised singer-songwriter from Corpus Christi, Tx who has been singing since she was a toddler and she frequently put a melody to even the most mundane tasks like her elementary math homework. By nine years old, she was putting lyrics to melody and entertaining her family. Now, at only 16 years old, she has penned more than 200 original songs. As a multi instrumentalist playing piano, guitar and ukulele, she has established herself as a well rounded musician.

Often she can be found at local Farmer's Markets, Festivals, Art Galleries and has opened for Deana Carter, Jack Ingram, Roger Creager, Lee Greenwood and several others. However, her favorite place to sing is at her church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.
Emma plans to attend Belmont University and study music business and she has her sights set as a singer-songwriter in Nashville. Emma just completed recording for her debut album which will be released in the spring of 2025. You can find out more information on her website https://emmajamesmusic.com/

Chloe Tao was our 3rd place winner with her song, Imperfect.


YOUNG SONGWRITER WINNERS
   1. Growing Pains by Emma James, Corpus Christi, TX
    2.    Broken by Emma James, Corpus Christi, TX
    3.    Imperfect by Chloe Tao, Dallas, Tx

Monday, June 3, 2024

Dallas Songwriters Young Songwriters Contest Now Open for Entries: Deadline Sept 30

 DSA Young Songwriters Contest

Presented by the Dallas Songwriters Association for student entrants 18 and under

  Dallas Songwriters Association has a mission to mentor and recognize young performing songwriter talent. The Dallas Songwriters Association’s Young Songwriters Contest offers winner a $100 cash prize or a chance to win a $500 scholarship, a membership in the Dallas Songwriters Association and a performance spot on the Dallas Songwriters Awards Program in January 2025, plus various other showcase opportunities in 2025 in our Songwriters Spotlight series at local venues and festivals stages. Our judges are industry pros. Entry fee: $15. Deadline: Sept 30.



All Genres are accepted

Entry Fee $15
Deadline: Friday, Sept 30th
Submissions Close at Midnight. 


Enter Online 

OR ENTER BY MAIL please include an email and phone number
Mail your check and entries to:
Dallas Songwriters Association
Young Songwriters Contest Director
Sammons Center For The Arts
3630 Harry Hines Blvd. #20
Dallas, Texas 75219
(voicemail) 214-302-9502

MAIL IN ENTRIES MUST BE POST MARKED BY Sept 30th.
 or you can mail your CD and pay online at our DSA store with credit card or Paypal. https://dallas-songwriters-association.square.site/product/young-songwriters-contest/23?cs=true
Song Contest Rules

Important Dates
Submission Deadline: Sept 30
Semi-Finalists Announced: Nov 14, 2024

Finalists and Grand Prize Winners Announced: Jan 18, 2025

Saturday, September 2, 2023

DALLAS SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION 2023 YOUNG SONGWRITERS CONTEST OPEN FOR ENTIRE THROUGH SEPT 30

 



DSA honored Emma James of Corpus Christi, Tx with the Young Songwriters Award. https://youngsongwriterscontest.blogspot.com


 

 YOUNG SONGWRITERS CONTEST
Dreaming Wild by Emma James, Corpus Christi, Tx
Happy For You by Ava Della Pietra, Old Field, NY
Worst Of Times by Ava Della Pietra, Old Field, NY
Your Plans by Nyasia Robreno, Heartland, TX
I Don’t Know the Words by Braden Meek, Grapevine, Tx

 

Emma is a Texas born and raised singer-songwriter who has been singing since she was a toddler and she frequently put a melody to even the most mundane tasks like her elementary math homework. By nine years old, she was putting lyrics to melody and entertaining her family. Now, at only 15 years old, she has penned more than 150 original songs. As a multi instrumentalist playing piano, guitar and ukulele, she has established herself as a well rounded musician and a true artist as she continues to hone her craft.

Often she can be found at local Farmer's Markets, Festivals, Art Galleries and various private events performing an engaging mix of classic covers across a variety of genres as well as many of her original songs. However, her favorite place to sing is at her church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.

Her sights are set on a career in music in Nashville. She is currently in the midst of writing, composing and recording a multiple song project about a girl's journey towards self discovery. Emma also performed at the awards show via zoom. https://emmajamesmusic.com/

DSA Young Songwriters Contest

Presented by the Dallas Songwriters Association for student entrants 18 and under

  Dallas Songwriters Association has a mission to mentor and recognize young performing songwriter talent. The Dallas Songwriters Association’s Young Songwriters Contest offers winner a $100 cash prize or a chance to win a $500 scholarship, a membership in the Dallas Songwriters Association and a performance spot on the Dallas Songwriters Awards Program in January 2024, plus various other showcase opportunities in 2024 in our Songwriters Spotlight series at local venues and festivals stages. Our judges are industry pros. Entry fee: $15. Deadline: Sept 30.



All Genres are accepted

Entry Fee $15
Deadline: Friday, Sept 30th
Submissions Close at Midnight. 


Enter Online 

OR ENTER BY MAIL please include an email and phone number
Mail your check and entries to:
Dallas Songwriters Association
Young Songwriters Contest Director
Sammons Center For The Arts
3630 Harry Hines Blvd. #20
Dallas, Texas 75219
(voicemail) 214-750-0916 x1

MAIL IN ENTRIES MUST BE POST MARKED BY Sept 30th.
 or you can mail your CD and pay online at our DSA store with credit card or Paypal. https://dallas-songwriters-association.square.site/product/young-songwriters-contest/23?cs=true
Song Contest Rules

Important Dates
Submission Deadline: Sept 30
Semi-Finalists Announced: Nov 3, 2023

Finalists and Grand Prize Winners Announced: Jan 13, 2023

Friday, March 3, 2023

Winners of the 2022 Young Songwriters Song Contest

1st - Broken People by Jolie Hope (Reiman), Dallas, TX  jolir1@icloud.com

2nd - If This Guitar Could Talk by Emma James,  Corpus Christi, TX      

3rd - Someday by Evan Huang, Dallas, TX   ehuang1256@gmail.com

4th - Always the One by Emma James,  Corpus Christi, TX  



Joli Hope of Dallas, Tx is the winner of the 2022 Young Songwriters Song Contest. DSA awarded her with a $500 Scholarship. https://jolihopemusic.com/

Contest winner Joli Hope

Joli is a talented young woman who has been honing her performance skills for a number of years already. She has studied at the Interlochen Center for the Arts along with the School of the Creative and Performing Arts in New York and Los Angeles College of Music. As an incoming freshman Fall 2022, she is excited to continue her studies in the songwriting program at Belmont University. She has performed over 50 live shows at venues such as House of Blues, Gilley’s, Dallas Love Field, Plano Balloon Festival, Love & War in Texas, Six Flags, Gaylord Texan, and Wildflower Festival. She also wrote a song for The Cope Foundation which she performed at their virtual benefit concert. Additionally, she has volunteered at the Veterans Hospital and sang door to door for patients. She performed at the 2022 Dallas Songwriters Hall of Fame last April at Love and War. She recently performed from her dorm room at Belmont College via zoom to our awards program. You can view that performance on our youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UE9wwsCODg&list=UULFzLz8grkFMa1zD2sMsp5-7A&index=11

Our first runner up is Emma James from Corpus Christi, Tx

Emma is a Texas born and raised singer-songwriter who has been singing since she was a toddler and she frequently put a melody to even the most mundane tasks like her elementary math homework. By nine years old, she was putting lyrics to melody and entertaining her family. Now, at only 14 years old, she has penned more than 150 original songs. As a multi instrumentalist playing piano, guitar and ukulele, she has established herself as a well rounded musician and a true artist as she continues to hone her craft.

Often she can be found at local Farmer's Markets, Festivals, Art Galleries and various private events performing an engaging mix of classic covers across a variety of genres as well as many of her original songs. However, her favorite place to sing is at her church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.

Her sights are set on a career in music in Nashville. She is currently in the midst of writing, composing and recording a multiple song project about a girl's journey towards self discovery. Emma also performed at the awards show via zoom. https://emmajamesmusic.com/

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

DALLAS SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION'S 2022 YOUNG SONGWRITERS CONTEST

 DSA Young Songwriters Contest

Presented by the Dallas Songwriters Association for student entrants 18 and under

  Dallas Songwriters Association has a mission to mentor and recognize young performing songwriter talent. The Dallas Songwriters Association’s Young Songwriters Contest offers winner a $100 cash prize, a membership in the Dallas Songwriters Association and a performance spot on the Dallas Songwriters Awards Program in January 2023, plus various other showcase opportunities in 2023 in our Songwriters Spotlight series at local venues and festivals stages. Our judges are industry pros. Entry fee: $15. Deadline: Sept 30.



All Genres are accepted

Entry Fee $15
Deadline: Friday, Sept 30th
Submissions Close at Midnight. 


Enter Online 

OR ENTER BY MAIL please include an email and phone number
Mail your check and entries to:
Dallas Songwriters Association
Young Songwriters Contest Director
Sammons Center For The Arts
3630 Harry Hines Blvd. #20
Dallas, Texas 75219
(voicemail) 214-750-0916 x1

MAIL IN ENTRIES MUST BE POST MARKED BY Sept 30th.
 or you can mail your CD and pay online at our DSA store with credit card or Paypal. https://dallas-songwriters-association.square.site/product/young-songwriters-contest/23?cs=true

Important Dates
Submission Deadline: Sept 30
Semi-Finalists Announced: Nov 4, 2022

Finalists and Grand Prize Winners Announced: Jan 14, 2023

LEXI LEE GAMBLE IS OUR YOUNG SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR FOR 2025

     Amazing 14 year old Lexi Lee Gamble is DSA’s Young Songwriter Of The Year with her song “Back When We Were Young.” In addition, her son...