The School of the Arts and Department of Music is offering a two-day songwriting workshop titled Side B: Bronco Songwriting Collective, designed to ignite campus-wide student interest in music and songwriting.
The event will feature aspiring Boise State singer/songwriters and members of the Idaho Songwriters Association. Free and open to all students, the workshop will include hands-on creative sessions, industry insights and will culminate in a student songwriting competition, presented as a showcase concert during Treefort at Boise State.
Side B: Bronco Songwriting Workshop
When: Thursday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: C125 Choir Room, Morrison Center
Who: Anyone who submits a song for the competition will be automatically enrolled in the 2-hour workshop. Student excuse letters will be provided.
Presenters include Steve Eaton, Dan Costello, Dale Keys, Steve Fulton and members of the Idaho Songwriting Association.
Bronco Singer/Songwriting Competition
Overview
All Boise State students are encouraged to apply for Boise State’s first Singer/Songwriter Competition. The deadline to enter the competition is March 1, 2026.
Ten finalists will be selected to perform live and compete for prizes at the final concert on Friday, March 27, 2026 in the Centennial Amphitheatre during Treefort at Boise State.
The winner will receive a one-year $1,000 Love MISSA Songwriting Scholarship and a four-hour professional recording session with Steve Fulton. A second-place winner will get a two-hour recording session at Boise State with a student audio engineer. Further prizes will be announced.
Any students who submit a song are required to attend the Songwriting Workshop on Thursday, March 26, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on campus. Student excuse letters will be provided.
Eligibility
Open to all currently enrolled Boise State University students (undergraduate and graduate).
Entries ​must be submitted individually​ (not as a team​)​, though the song itself may be performed by multiple musicians.
Structure: Must have a clear form (e.g., verse-chorus, AABA, through-composed).
Lyrics: Must be included (i.e., not strictly instrumental). If lyrics are in a foreign language, please include a translation. The lyrical content should be appropriate for an audience of all ages.
Accompaniment: The song may be accompanied by one to five instruments (not a cappella).
Genre: Any genre is acceptable.
Originality: The song must be an original composition—no covers, arrangements, or works generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Any Generative AI assistance in the creative process should be disclosed.
Award timeline
Submission deadline: March 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
Finalist announcement: March 9, 2026
Live competition: March 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Boise State Amphitheater
Live showcase and winner announcement: March 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Boise State Amphitheater
Creativity and originality – Unique ideas, thoughtful use of harmony/melody/rhythm.
Musicality – Strong melody, harmonic development and coherence.
Lyrics – Expressive, clear and effective text.
Structure – Logical progression with consideration to form.
Performance and production – Performance is skillfully executed and recorded with high quality (students have access to recording equipment in Albertsons Library).
Emotional impact – Ability to connect with the listener.
Additional submission information
Required
Lyrics: PDF format written in a standard font.
Audio Recording: Unlisted YouTube link
Optional
Include a lead sheet or notated score with submission.
A short video (max 2 minutes) explaining the songwriting process or inspiration.
Additional guidelines
Participants retain all rights to their compositions but grant Boise State a nonexclusive right to feature the winning songs in promotional materials and events.
Judges will consist of faculty members, professional musicians and industry professionals.