Teen songwriters win a songwriting constest

Like many situations that middle school boys get themselves into, it all started with a text message on a cellphone. But this is something that the parents of Max DiRado, Jack Duff, and Gabe Goodman approved of.

The three, students at Gates Intermediate School in Scituate, have won the first songwriting competition of the Hingham-based South Shore Conservatory, beating out about 17 other songwriters — all adults.

“Never in a million years did they expect to win this,” said Wendy Goldstein, DiRado’s mother. “It was not a composition contest for kids.”

The winning song, “Just When You Think That It’s All Over,” was selected by online voting and a panel of judges. The boys were put over the top not by the voting but by judges, Goldstein said.

The trio first collaborated last year in the Gates School’s annual songwriting competition. Goodman, 14, and DiRado, 13, who live across the street from each other, have been playing together for years. But last year, the two invited Duff, 14, to play with them. The three have been collaborating ever since — on cellphones.

Goodman records a draft on his cellphone and sends it to DiRado and Duff, who then give feedback via text message. The three usually get together once a week, and that’s when they work out the details.

As a reward, the winning song will be featured on the South Shore Conservatory’s website in June, and the band was selected to headline an open-mike night this month in Duxbury.

The three expect to continue writing songs and playing together at various venues — they’ve been invited to open for a North Andover band, called One Step Ahead, next month.

written by: Molly A.K. Connors sources: The Boston Globe (boston.com)