The English-Speaking Union

National Shakespeare Writing Competition

Modern Troubadour Competition

 


About the Program

•A creative writing competition 
•Submissions allowed in multiple modalities
•Designed to be accessible for students of all abilities
•Additional resources provided for teachers
  


UPDATE:

And the Winners Are...

High School (Grades 10-12)


Written: #2 Taylor White, New York Branch, student of Leslie Kohn at Scholars' Academy. Free-form poem entitled "A Love Song from the Sky" is based on Sonnets 3, 18, 105, 116. Watch the video here
Video:  #55 Anthony Ojeda, Miami Branch,  student of Michelle Perkins at Miami Arts Charter School. Short-form movie entitled "Timeless Obsession" is based on Sonnet 16. Watch the video here.
Audio: # 59 Ebunoluwa Oguntola, Syracuse Branch, student of Courtney Romeiser at Jamesville-DeWitt High School. Song entitled "Beseeching Solace" is based on Sonnet 138. Listen to the song here.
Graphic: #48 Sophia Hall, Washington DC Branch, student of Lena Roy at Holton Arms. Mixed-media collage entitled "Mirror Reflections" is based on sonnet 138. See artwork here.

Middle School/Junior High (grades 6-9)



Written: #12 Eric Wu, Seattle Branch, Student of Kathryn Maslak at PrepEDU. Poem entitled "To Will" is based on Sonnet 2. Read the poem here.
Video: No Submissions
Audio: # 50 Dror Ohad, Greenwich Branch, student of Carol Blejwas at William H. Hall School. Poem entitled "Weary with Toil" is based on Sonnet 27. Hear the recitation here. 
Graphic: #49 J Santiago, Greenwich Branch, student of Carol Blejwas at William H. Hall School. Digital collage entitled "Weary with Toil, I Haste Me To My Bed" is based on Sonnet 27. See the artwork here. 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION AND SUBMIT YOUR WORK!

CLICK HERE FOR LESSON PLANS AND TEACHER RESOURCES

NATIONAL Prizes include:
Middle School Student Prizes:

Best Written Submission:

  • $250 Cash Prize
  • Your submission featured on the ESU Website
  • A commemorative plaque
  • A copy of Wayne Kim's book "Write a Sonnet on it"
  • Bonus: The teacher gets $100!

Best Video Submission:

  • $100 Cash Prize
  • A certificate
  • Your submission featured on the ESU Website

Best Audio Submission:

  • $100 Cash Prize
  • A certificate
  • Your submission featured on the ESU Website

Best Graphic Submission:

  • $100 Cash Prize
  • A certificate
  • Your submission featured on the ESU Website
High School Student Prizes:

Best Written Submission:

  • $250 Cash Prize
  • Your submission featured on the ESU Website
  • A commemorative plaque
  • A copy of Helen Vendler's book "The Art of Shakespeare's Sonnets"
  • Bonus: The teacher gets $100!

Best Video Submission:

  • $100 Cash Prize
  • A certificate
  • Your submission featured on the ESU Website

Best Audio Submission:

  • $100 Cash Prize
  • A certificate
  • Your submission featured on the ESU Website

Best Graphic Submission:

  • $100 Cash Prize
  • A certificate
  • Your submission featured on the ESU Website


Additional prizes may be offered on the local level.


This competition is open to middle and high school students in the 50 United States of America. The ESU reserves the right to substitute prizes as needed. The decision of the judges is final. Submissions become the property of the ESU and winners are required to sign a photo waiver.