Pasadena-Based College of Music Partners with London’s Contemporary Music Performance Institute for Songwriting Competition

The Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) in Pasadena has embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) in London to launch the inaugural “ICMP x LACM International Songwriting Competition,” an international competition offering a unique platform for student songwriters worldwide to showcase their talents on a global stage.

The competition is now open and closes on April 26. It’s exclusively for current students from 16 participating institutions, including LACM and the ICMP.

“We are thrilled to partner with ICMP to bring this unique opportunity to aspiring songwriters,” Erin Workman, LACM Executive Vice President and Department Head for Songwriting & Music Business, said. “This competition is a fantastic opportunity for songwriters to gain recognition for their work and take their careers to new heights.”

The competition will award exciting prizes and give students the opportunity to get their original compositions in front of some of the music industry’s top A&R executives working today. Participants will have the opportunity to submit their songs through the DISCO music-sharing platform. Prizes include musical studio equipment, software bundles, hardware, licenses, and a free week of study at the “Summer at LACM” program.

Aside from LACM and ICMP, the other participating institutions include the Vienna Music Institute in Austria); Seoul Institute of the Arts, Seoul Music High School, Dankook University, Modern K Academy, Hanlim Multi Art School, and YIT, all in South Korea; Purdue University in Ohio, SRH in Germany, JMC Academy in Australia, Haarlem Conservatorium in the Netherlands, SAE in the UK, Pearlbay in Sri Lanka, and Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Entries will be judged by a panel of music industry experts including Paul Rocha, Director of Commercial Sync at Warner Records; Tommy Brown, Grammy Nominated Songwriter/producer; Andrea Torchia, Head of Publishing for Champagne Therapy; and Gaby Kochlani, Owner/CEO of The Grey Administration.

Sponsors include Ableton, IK Multimedia, iZotope, AIAIAI, DISCO, Native Instruments, and Austrian Audio.

Winners will be announced on May 24.

For updates and announcements about the ICMP x LACM International Songwriting Competition, visit https://lacm.edu/isc/ or follow LACM and ICMP on social media: @lacmofficial @icmplondon.

For more information about LACM’s programs,, call (626) 568-8850 or email admissions@lacm.edu.

The LACM is located at 300 S. Fair Oaks Ave. in Pasadena.