Project Details
The Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) Young Songwriters Intensive is a fully funded 7-day course and retreat. Each year, 10 young artists are selected for this unique opportunity to learn and advance the fundamentals of contemporary and musical theater songwriting from top industry professionals. This intensive course allows them to further the skills and tools they need to pursue careers as professional songwriters.
The Johnny Mercer Foundation makes it possible to offer this program free of charge to invited participants and offers a stipend to cover most travel expenses.
Check back later for applications to the 2026 program!
Where is it?
This program is held at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, on an idyllic lake in Sidney, Maine.
When is it?
The 2025 Young Songwriters Intensive will run from August 4th – August 10th, with travel days on August 3rd and August 11th.
Who is it for?
This program is designed to serve songwriters who are 14 – 20 years old.
What is provided?
We will provide free tuition, lodging, all meals, transportation to and from the airport to campus, and additional travel expenses as approved by the program coordinator.
(Receipts must be provided for additional expenses.)
What can I expect from this experience?
You can expect 7 days of learning focused on the fundamentals of contemporary and musical theater songwriting through a series of tutorials, classes, workshops, and writing exercises.
In addition, students will have time to enjoy activities on the lake like swimming, kayaking, canoeing, campfires and more!
What do I need to submit?
When the submission period opens, you can use the button above to access the application for our 2025 program.
We ask applicants to submit 2 audio song samples in any genre (Pop, Rock, R&B, HipHop, Country, Musical Theater, Folk, Jazz, etc.) with accompanying lyric sheets.
When do submissions open and close?
We will begin accepting submissions for the 2025 program on October 1st, 2024.
The deadline will be March 1st, 2025.
All applicants will be notified of the results by no later than March 14th, 2025.
This workshop introduced me to so many friends that I truly want to work with for the rest of my life. I was so thankful for the incredibly fun and supportive environment. Collaborating with others pushed me to work harder than I would have on my own, and allowed me to write songs I never would have come up with otherwise.
Ryan Jacobs
From day one, our teachers created a safe space for us to be vulnerable in our art. I really appreciated the dynamic between the students and the faculty – it was evident that everyone cared deeply about one another. Being on this beautiful campus, far away from the rest of the world, I felt rejuvenated and lucky to have the time and space to be truly creative.
Oliviana Marie
I absolutely cherished learning from such amazing faculty while at Snow Pond. I learned so much about storytelling and writing for musical theatre, and it was so inspiring to be around such talented artists. While doing all this, I also loved getting to chill by the water, or take a stroll in the woods with my guitar. It was an outstanding time that I will always be grateful for!
Chloe Meinershagen
The JMF Songwriters Intensive not only taught me what the bar was for a great song, but also introduced me to a community of brilliant and supportive colleagues, collaborators, and mentors. From that one experience came opened doors to writer’s retreats, musical workshops, concert readings, professional orchestration jobs, you name it. JMF gives you the opportunities and the community it takes to be a full time artist.
Peter Seibert
