Reading pupil wins national songwriting competition for the fifth year running

A student at a Reading school has won a national songwriting competition for the fifth year running. Eliza, who is now in Upper Sixth at Leighton Park School, has been offered a full academic scholarship to study Music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music (Boston) next year. She has won her age group in the Independent Schools Association (ISA) national Composing Competition every year since 2020. The ISA is the largest professional body of independent schools in the UK, representing over 650 schools.

Eliza won 1st place in the senior category for her piece Break in the Loop, and commented: “I am so happy to have won and it is such a pleasant surprise. I am so glad that I got recognition for what I love to do. As I continue through higher education at Berklee, I plan to continue writing songs to continuously develop my skills so I can hopefully form a career out of my love for songwriting and performing.”

Eliza was one of three students celebrating success in the songwriting competition with Alana in Year 11 securing 2^nd place in the junior age category and Micah coming Runner Up in the Instrumental category. This success follows on from Leighton Park students also winning 1^st and 2^nd place in the national ISA Young Musician Competition, and the Music Department being recognised as one of the top departments in the country as a Finalist for the Outstanding School Music Department Award in the prestigious Music and Drama Education Awards 2025.

Commenting on the success in the Composing Competition Rosemary Scales, Director of Music and Media, enthused: “I am so thrilled that the composition skills of 3 of our students have been recognised on a national stage in the ISA Composing competition. Each of them showed real originality, creativity and flair in their work. Eliza’s fifth consecutive win as she has worked up through the age groups is an incredible achievement – a real testament to her dedication and musical imagination. It’s so rewarding to see our composers sharing their creativity and being celebrated for it. We are very proud of them all.”