Anthem

Panel

Composer and Producer

Bill Whelan

Musician, Composer & Broadcaster

Ellen Cranitch

Rapper, Producer and

Songwriter MuRli

Calling all aspiring songwriters, singers, rappers, composers and musicians!

Calling all aspiring songwriters, singers, rappers, composers and musicians!
Enter the ETB Anthem Competition and celebrate your ETB experience through music.

This year, Education and Training Boards mark ten years since they were established. Education & Training Boards Ireland are celebrating heroes and learners from across our 16 ETBs and showcasing the services they provide to learners in local communities throughout the country: from community national schools to community colleges, youth, adult and further education and training.
As part of these festivities, we are launching an anthem competition that celebrates the work of ETBs and our core values . This initiative is being run in partnership with Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme that gives children and young people access to high-quality performance music education

Competition Rules and Judging:


Entries must be submitted online via https://events.etbi.ie/ETBDay2023
Closing date for entries is 12pm (noon) on Monday 29 May, 2023.
The anthem entry must be recorded on video (iPhone, Android or other) and uploaded to the official entry link on https://events.etbi.ie/ETBDay2023


Where an entry involves a learner(s) under 18yrs, the person completing the entry must be over 18yrs and confirm that the appropriate consents have been obtained.

A panel of shortlisting judges, with a background in music and knowledge of the ETB sector, will be appointed by ETBI to assess all entries and select a shortlist. The shortlisted entries will then be assessed by our final judging panel of professional musicians, artists and composers. Entries will be judged using a pre-defined criteria and marking scheme.


It is intended that one winner and one runner-up will be selected by the judging panel. The judges may also make recommendations on the involvement of multiple entries in the final recorded and performed anthem.

Shortlisted entrants must be available to discuss their entries with the judging panel in June and provide any additional information required.


The awardee(s) must be available to attend the ETBI conference in Cork on 27/28 September 2023 to perform the winning anthem.
The awardee(s) must agree to record the winning anthem and undertake publicity, including photography. ETBI reserves the right to arrange and produce the winning anthem.

The awardee(s) must refrain from undertaking any publicity, including social media posts, in advance of the official launch and press release issued by ETBI. The awardee(s) retains all ownership rights to all submitted anthems. ETBI will not have any ownership rights to any anthem submitted.


If there are no entries that meet the minimum standard set by ETBI, the judging panel reserves the right to not select a winner.
The judges’ decision is final and binding in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into.

The composers/musicians of the awarded anthem will:

  • Record their anthem with a music industry professional in Windmill Lane Recording Studio.
  • Receive advice and input from professional musicians on the performance and production of their anthem.
  • Premier their anthem at the ETBI conference in Cork on 27/28 September 2023.
  • Have their anthem launched nationally as part of an ETBI publicity campaign.

What are we looking for in an ETB Anthem?

  • We are seeking a powerful ETB anthem that inspires, empowers and resonates with ETB Learners and staff.
  • The ETB Anthem should include lyrics which reflect what your ETB means to you. Your track can be written for vocalists instrumentalists (e.g. singers, rappers) in any style or genre.
  • Entries can be performed by an individual or group, and can include one or more instrument.
  • Don’t worry about the production values of your entry – that can come later!
  • You will be asked to briefly tell us a little about yourself and describe the story or inspiration behind your entry as part of your online submission.

Who can enter?

  • This competition is open to all ETB learners and participants in ETB Programmes. This includes all ETB school students at both primary and post-primary level, all ETB FET learners and trainees and well as participants in programmes operated/ funded by an ETB e.g. Youth Services and ETB Music Generation partnerships.
How to enter Anthem Competition

Who are we?

  • Education & Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) is the national representative association for our 16-member Education & Training Boards (ETBs) around Ireland. Our mission is to lead and advance the continued development of education, training and youthwork in Ireland and our vision is to harness our strength to influence and promote a strong education and training sector through collaboration and collective effort. ETBI is guided by the core values of excellence, care, equality, community, and respect.
  • Collectively, our 16 ETBs have responsibility for 27 Community National Schools and 250 Post-Primary Schools catering to over 117,000 students. ETB Post-Primary Schools are the largest provider of education through the medium of Irish with 48 schools. ETBs are also the largest provider of multi-denominational education in Ireland. ETBs deliver Further Education and Training to over 226,000 FET learners each year across 500+ learner locations and play a central role in the delivery of apprenticeships and traineeships in partnership with employers. ETBs also support, monitor, and deliver youth services. The ETB Sector employs over 32,000 people and has a combined annual spend in excess of €2bn.

What do we stand for?

  • We are driven by our core values of excellence, care, equality, community, and respect.
  • ETBs, their schools, colleges, centres and services are the driving force of education and training in the local community. We operate community national schools, post-primary schools, further education colleges, and a range of adult and further education centres delivering education and training programmes.
  • We are above all a learning organisation. No matter where you are in the lifelong learning cycle,
    ETBs have a pathway of education for you. We believe that learning has the power to change lives and build communities.
  • ETB schools are state, co-educational and multidenominational.

ETB Anthem Partner – Music Generation

“What we want to do is really simple. We just want to make sure that everyone, whatever their background, gets access to music tuition. That’s the idea.” – Bono, U2 May 2010


Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme that gives children, and young people access to high-quality, performance music education. Initiated by Music Network, Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Local Music Education Partnerships (LMEPs) in which Education and Training Board and Local Authorities play a lead role.Music Generation believes in an Ireland where every child and young person is given the opportunity to transform their lives through the power of music making. Our mission is to empower children and young people to realise their full potential through access to, and participation in, high quality performance music education.