Enter competition
For those wishing to enter the Score It competition, please find specific details below on instrumentation, score preparation, audio/video requirements and music teacher endorsement.
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 compositions to be performed live with film at the Conservatorium's Score It Awards Ceremony on November 5th.
2026 Animations
Please note: These animations remain the property of the GFS Filmmakers and cannot be distributed online or posted on social media. Any public sharing constitutes an infringement of these rights.
Beneath the Hollow
A hungry owlet falls from their nest, into a strange, whimsical world run by a ruling class of affluent mice.
Director: Naiya Garbutt
Production Manager: Arianna Travilla
1.Enter password: Scoreit25
2. Select 'download' button.
Dragonkin
A dragon is left in charge of protecting their home after her father has left to hunt food for the upcoming winter. She’s put to the test when a boy from the nearby village her father had warned her about ends up seeking shelter in their home.
Director: Eunice Li Wei Koo
Producer: Charlotte Tan Xuan Ci
1.Enter password: Scoreit25
2. Select 'download' button.
Step one: Create your score
Review the source material: 2026 Animations from Griffith Film School students.
The instrumentation listed below is the maximum students can write for. Students are allowed to write for a smaller subset of this if they wish.
Scores selected for live performance will need to have a click-track provided by the composer, so keep this in mind!
18-piece Orchestra instrumentation
Woodwinds
- 1 Flute
- 1 Oboe
- 1 Clarinet (in Bb)
- 1 Bassoon
Brass
- 1 Horn (in F)
- 1 Trumpet (in Bb)
- 1 Trombone
- 1 Tuba
Percussion (2 players)
- Timpani (x4), Glockenspiel
- Drum Kit, Standard Auxiliary percussion
Strings
- 2 violin 1
- 2 violin 2
- 1 viola
- 1 cello
- 1 double bass
Optional
- Piano/Keyboard
- Classical Guitar
Step two: Submit your score
Submissions are now open! The online submission form is available below, and will remain open until the deadline of Friday, 12 June 2026. Submissions will require scores and video files with a midi audio soundtrack to be uploaded.
Parts are not required to be extracted, and there is no requirement for a click track in the audio file at the initial submission stage.
Teacher endorsement
To ensure that schools and teachers are aware that a student will be representing the school in this event, we are asking that teachers endorse any student submissions. Teachers will need to confirm that the score is complete and meets the submission requirements. We'd also ask teachers to consider whether the student will be able to incorporate the feedback given, and export a score and parts in a timely fashion (with or without your help).
There are two ways for teachers to endorse a student’s submission:
- teachers can write a quick email to the student endorsing their submission, and the student can copy or screenshot that email and include it in their submission form (complete with date, teacher email address, etc)
- teachers can do the online submission on the student’s behalf and make a note of this in the submission form.
Submission components
- Online submission form completed
- PDF Conductor’s Score
- MP4 video file with Midi audio export of the score embedded
- Entry fee: For students submitting a score for the competition, there is a $25 fee per submission to help cover the costs of reviewing all entries and providing feedback to each student. Payments can be made through GriffithPay by following the link below and listing "Score It" in the Program field
- Pay Entry Fee
Technical Specifications
It is very important that the video files do not change frame-rate settings when imported into and back out of your DAW or notation software. Incorrect settings can ruin the synchronisation of your score with the image, so please ensure you follow the instructions here:
- When working with video files in composition software such as Sibelius, ensure that your timecode settings match the video that has been provided.
- In this case, Griffith Film School has supplied videos in 1920x1080 resolution, 25 fps frame rate (no drop frame) with start timecode 00:00:00:00.
- Checking these settings are correct before starting to compose will allow your score to play back correctly and in sync.
Score
Please upload your score as a PDF file. You can upload it via the online form.
Please name your score file carefully, as shown below. This will allow us to easily sort submissions.
- Score:
- Title_Surname_Name_Score.pdf
- Example: Dragonkin_ Williams_John_Score.pdf
Video
Upload your video file with a midi audio soundtrack. You can upload it via the online form.
Please name your score file carefully, as shown below. This will allow us to easily sort submissions.
- Video:
- Title_Surname_Name_Video.mp4
- Example: BeneathTheHollow_ Williams_John_Video.mp4
Notification of Selected Scores
Although it will be difficult, the judging panel will find a way to select one favourite score for each animation trailer.
Those selected composers will then have a chance to be workshopped by Conservatorium students, alumni and academics in early Term 3 before submitting the final score and parts by late August.
Interest
Express your interest in this competition, or future Score It competitions
Contact Open Conservatorium
General enquiries
- Phone
- +61 7 3735 6247
- open-conservatorium@griffith.edu.au
Program enquiries
- Young Conservatorium
- +61 7 3735 6247
- State Honours Ensemble
- +61 7 3735 6375
- Adult Education, Tertiary Preparation and Live Music
- +61 7 3735 6337
Find us
- Location and delivery address
- Open Conservatorium
- Room 3.03
- Griffith University
- 140 Grey Street
- South Bank QLD 4101
- Postal address
- Open Conservatorium
- PO Box 3428
- South Bank QLD 4101