“Songs are sneaky things . . . I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.”
Pete Seeger
When Voices Rise Song Contest
The When Voices Rise Songwriting Contest invites musicians to submit original songs that speak to the urgency, complexity, and hope of this moment in history. Carrying on (but not limited to) the legacy of the protest and folk music of the 1960s and 70s in the U.S. and Latin America’s Nueva Canción movement, we seek original work, in any style or genre, that reflects the power of song to awaken minds and stir hearts. Submit your work in English, Spanish, or other languages that bring your ideas to life—and let your voices rise.
"La canción es un arma en la lucha por la paz." Victor Jara
Submissions accepted March 1, 2026 - May 1, 2026 11:59 pm EST.
The winning song will receive a prize of $1,000. Two runners-up will each receive $500. The top ten songs will be featured in a concert at NYC's iconic Joe's Pub this summer. No purchase, donation, or fee necessary to enter.
Submission Information
1. Eligibility
Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., age 18 or older at time of entry. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Employees, officers, trustees, contractors, and immediate family members of the Saul N. Silbert Charitable Trust, La Familia Organization, and contest organizer Nancy Cheser (the “Organizers”) are not eligible.
No purchase or payment is required to enter.
2. Submission Guidelines
Submit (i) one audio file (MP3) and (ii) lyrics submitted through the form provided below in the submission section. One entry per person. No hard copies please.
Use the file naming format: last name - song title.file type, for example
smith-protestsong.pdf.
A high-end professional recording is not required, but the demo must be of sufficient quality to convey the melody, lyrics, and overall structure of the song. We recommend recordings with clear accompaniment (such as piano or guitar) and vocals that are audible and easy to understand.
Submissions will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to the first 300 eligible entries received, as determined solely by the Organizers. The Organizers are not responsible for late, lost, misdirected, or incomplete submissions or for technical issues affecting email delivery and the submission.
Submissions accepted March 1, 2026 - May 1, 2026 11:59 pm EST.
For any additional communication, email
3. Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated on:
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Message & relevance to the contest theme
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Creativity & originality
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Emotional impact
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Musical composition
Judging is at the sole discretion of the judging panel.
4. Prize
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One winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize.
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Two (2) Second Place winners will each receive a $500 cash prize.
Winners and other authors of the most well favored songs may also be invited to have their song presented at an in-person event in New York City, spring/summer 2026 (exact date TBD). There may be 5 to 15 songs performed.
Travel, lodging, and related expenses are not provided.
Attendance is optional. If the winner chooses not to attend and does not wish their song performed, organizers shall invite the author of the next favorite song to replace, and so on.
5. Rights & Permissions
Entrants retain all copyrights to their submitted work.
By entering, entrant grants the Organizers a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, display, share, exploit, perform, copy, distribute and promote the entry (with credit attribution whenever there is text accompaniment to do so)
in connection with the contest, including promotional, archival, and educational uses.
Entrant warrants that:
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the submitted work is original to entrant;
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entrant owns all rights necessary to submit it;
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the entry does not infringe copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other rights;
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no unlicensed samples, covers, or AI-generated material are included.
Entrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the contest organizers from any third-party claims arising from breach of these warranties.
Our
Story
Background
This summer, after watching the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, we were reminded of the crucial role music played during the turbulent sixties and seventies in both the United States and Latin America with the Nueva Canción movement, and we wanted to foster its resurgence in today’s volatile realities. As artists frequently deflated by the daily barrage of news, the thought of finding a creative response energized us. Pete Seeger once said, “I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.” And in that spirit and belief, we decided to sponsor the When Voices Rise Songwriting Contest.
Concept
In times of uncertainty, music has always offered both refuge and resistance. From the folk-driven protest songs of the 1960s and ’70s in the United States to the powerful voices of the Nueva Canción movement across Latin America, artists have long used music to reflect the struggles, hopes, and resilience of their communities. This song contest invites participants to draw inspiration from that rich legacy—celebrating music not only as an art form, but as a way of listening, reflecting on the past, and connecting in the present.
The Team
La Familia is an organization founded by Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca to foster community and artistic opportunities for Latine and immigrant artists. Jaime Lozano is a Mexican-born composer, orchestrator, and musical theatre storyteller whose work blends Latin musical idioms with theatrical emotion. As a multi-hyphenate artist, Jaime has orchestrated, arranged, directed, and produced across projects both in the U.S. and internationally, was a Lincoln Center Artist in Residence, and collaborated with many of the top artists including Lin-Manuel Miranda. Jaime also leads “Jaime Lozano & The Familia: Songs by an Immigrant” — a concert project bringing immigrant narratives to life through music. Florencia Cuenca is a Mexican immigrant multi-hyphenate theatre maker passionate about developing projects that celebrate the intersection of diversity, women, and Latine communities. She recently made history as the first Mexican immigrant originating a co-lead role on Broadway in the musical Real Women Have Curves. Their journey is one of bridging worlds—drawing from their Mexican roots while contributing to the evolving tapestry of American musical theatre.
Nancy Nachama Cheser is an artist, playwright, and educator whose work bridges the movements of the 1960s and 70s to today’s realities. Her poster art from that era created with a collective of women — now in the collections of libraries at Duke University, Radcliffe College, MOMA, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, and Smith College - reflected the spirit of art as a response to political realities. As a playwright and lyricist, she brings that same creative urgency to stories and music. Nancy’s recent collaboration Present Perfect, co-written with Mexican composer Jaime Lozano, follows characters navigating language, home, and identity across diverse communities.
The Saul N. Silbert Charitable Trust is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization incorporated in 1994 and is a generous sponsor of When Voices Rise. It was founded by Saul Silbert from his personal estate. He was a self-made man whose family came to the United States with little. A lover of the arts who studied theater, piano, and drawing through his last days, Saul Silbert believed strongly in the value of education and self-reliance. Executive Director Sarah Silbert Hinawi is a committed community arts leader and musician. She oversaw Purpl, a community-driven workspace and music/arts venue funded by the Saul N. Silbert Charitable Trust, curating opportunities and opening doors for emerging voices.
Connect
Get in Touch
We'd love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out with any questions or inquiries regarding the contest or submissions.
