Congratulations to R. L. Turner High School senior Chelsea Mayo for winning the Dallas round of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Musical Theatre Songwriting Contest. In its inaugural year, the Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge began with local contests in Dallas, Seattle, and Minneapolis, leading to a final national contest held in New York City. Chelsea’s original composition, “Say Goodbye”, won the Dallas round, well representing R. L. Turner HS and CFBISD in a contest where the 2nd and 3rd place Dallas finalists included students from Highland Park HS and Booker T. Washington HS.
Chelsea will be awarded a $2,500.00 scholarship in addition to a fully funded trip to New York City to participate in a songwriting workshop with industry professionals leading up to the final national contest this summer. Â Chelsea’s musical pursuits while at R. L. Turner High School include serving as a violinist in the Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Christy Myers, an alto in the A Cappella Choir under the direction of Brian Murray, and an AP Music Theory student.