Queensland’s leading high school film scoring competition

Score It is an exciting, collaborative opportunity for young budding composers across Queensland, to compose and submit a score to an existing short animation created by Griffith Film School students. This Open Conservatorium initiative allows young composers to experience writing, orchestrating and arranging for films.

Music teachers and students throughout Queensland can engage with this activity in different ways.  We’ve mapped requirements to the Year 11 and 12 QCAA high school curriculum for music, so teachers can embed Score It into their curriculum and use this opportunity as an assessment piece. Otherwise, it can be part of an extension activity or it can just be something fun for students to do outside of class.

Beyond the learning opportunities associated with engaging in this activity, students with well-developed scores may wish to submit their work in the annual Score It competition (with their teacher's endorsement). Students wishing to submit a score for competition will need to have written endorsement from their music teacher, confirming that the score is complete and meets the submission requirements.

All entries receive feedback from Conservatorium academics and students, and selected scores receive a live performance with film by a Conservatorium ensemble.

The Score It 2026 Competition will follow a very similar schedule to 2025.

· Late January: The two GFS 2026 Score It animations will be uploaded to the Score It website for students and teachers to access and download.

· End of Term 2: The website will be accepting online submissions with a deadline of Friday, 12 June 2026.

· Early Term 3: Feedback will be provided for all official submissions, and finalists will be notified if their scores are to be performed live in concert on November 5.

· Early Term 4: Finalists will need to submit their final scores and parts for performance.

Please fill in this quick online expression of interest form (teachers, students, parents, administrators) to receive updates about the 2026 Score It program.

Score it 2026 – Register Your Interest

If you have questions please contact Professor Peter Morris via peter.morris@griffith.edu.au

How do I enter the Score It competition?

Beyond students using these animations in class or for fun, there is also a more formal side to the program. The Score It competition involves students submitting their scores to their teachers, who will endorse what they feel are the very best compositions for entry.

It's really important that the online submission process involves teachers, because we want teachers to be aware of what their students are submitting, and to be selective in what they put forward. Score It focuses on scores composed specifically for a studio symphony orchestra, as the winning scores will be performed by a live orchestra, in collaboration with a projected film.

What happens after I submit my score?

Queensland Conservatorium students, alumni, and academics review the submitted scores, provide comments and feedback, and select a very best composition for each film. We endeavour to provide feedback for every submission.

The selected winners will then have the unique opportunity to be workshopped by Queensland Conservatorium academics and alumni to fine-tune their process before submitting a final version. Professor Peter Morris will conduct the selected works with the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra live in the annual FilmHarmonic event in September.

Submission information

  • For those wishing to enter the Score It competition, please click the button below for submission information, including specific details on instrumentation, score preparation, audio/video requirements and music teacher endorsement. You'll also be able to register your interest to be notified when submissions officially open.
  • Each application is judged by our expert panel of film and music professionals from the Griffith University community.
  • Finalists will receive workshops by Queensland Conservatorium academics and students, with the winning composition to be performed by the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra in the annual FilmHarmonic concert in September.

Apply now

    2021 Score It performance of Welcome to Winton with winning composition by Amy Chuong
  1. (Queensland Academy of Creative Industries)

2025 Animations

Density

At an experimental seafood farming factory, young scientist Miriam is unexpectedly offered a promotion to lead scientist on the condition that she approves the dubious conditions that the octopuses are being farmed in.  When an octopus under her care escapes captivity and causes chaos, she faces a dilemma.

Producer: Isabelle Deegan

Director: Casey Donald

Shadow and Stray

Stray, an abandoned bull terrier puppy, finds unexpected friendship at the pound when her shadow comes to life. As time passes and Stray remains at the pound, she begins to lose hope of ever getting adopted. Despite this, her shadow remains optimistic, and Stray learns that a friendship doesn't need to last forever to still be important.

Producer: Adele Gwen

Director: Bronte Jarrett

View the archive of Score It animations

How does Score it work?

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