The Kenneth G. Mills Foundation is pleased to sponsor the Kenneth G. Mills Poetry and Singer-Songwriter Prizes, awarded for the fine poetry and songwriting of City of Toronto students at high school, college, or university. They are offered to encourage and recognize the talent and creativity of young people.
Bring out your finest poetry and song and apply now (see application form below). You could win a cash prize and the opportunity to perform your work . . . at the ball!
Entrants must be 25 years of age or younger and attending a High School, University, or College in the City of Toronto. Prize winners will be required to show proof of age and studentship. Singer Song-Writer Entrants must be 25 years of age or younger and attending Public, High School or University in the City of Toronto.
The poetry or songwriting submission (one entry per applicant) must be an original, unpublished work written in English by the entrant. Any work that has appeared on the Internet or in print, or has been broadcast in any format, is considered published and is therefore ineligible. Each entry must be the work of a single author and must not infringe upon any right or copyright of any person or entity.
Entrants warrant that they have created the work that they are submitting and that they own the rights to it.
The three themes this year are Friendship, Revelation, and Miracle.
Please select one theme for your poem or song. Here are three quotations from Dr. Kenneth G. Mills, the poet, composer, and conductor whose considerations on sponsoring the arts have inspired this event. These statements are examples of how the ideas of Wonder, Inspiration, and Peace may open in your imagination and expression.
Miracle – “Miracle is the lessening of objective confinement.” (Kenneth G. Mills).
Your poem or song, and application form, must be submitted by September 15, 2019.
Students will submit their poem or song lyrics with the online application form. Songwriters must also send an MP3 or MP4 recording of their performance of their song; they may accompany themselves on guitar or piano or may have someone else accompany them.
Theme – The poem or song explores or relates to one of the themes of the contest.
Drama – The poem or song captures or effectively implies a compelling story.
Imagery – Figurative language creates rich or broad sensory appeal.
Impact – The poem or song evokes an emotional response in the reader.
Originality – The idea, perspective, or presentation is unique and fresh.
The twelve winners will be notified by October 1, 2019 and given information regarding the opportunity to present their poems and songs at the Kenneth G. Mills Poetry and Singer-Songwriter Awards Gala.
Finalists for the poetry and singer-songwriter prizes will be required to attend one rehearsal prior to the gala to ensure a quality presentation of their work. The rehearsal will take place during the last three weeks of April.
Copyright remains with the author of the poem or song. By submitting an entry, the entrant grants the Kenneth G. Mills Foundation the right to publish the entry online and/or in print in the case that the entry is selected for the poetry or singer-songwriters prizes. Entrants whose poem or song is selected for a prize agree to have their name and/or picture used for promotional purposes related to the competition.
Nine finalists will recite their poem or perform their song, and the awards will be given at the gala. Attendance at the gala is mandatory in order to receive a prize. A piano is available at the hall for singer-songwriters who wish to use it for their performance, or they may wish to use their own guitar, another instrument, or recorded accompaniment by one instrument.
The winners’ poems and lyrics will be published in a book that the finalists will receive as an acknowledgment of their achievement. Copies of the book will be available for purchase by friends and family members.
Accepted file types: pdf, docx, mp3, mp4.
By clicking the Submit Entry button, you agree to the Rules.