The Music Matters Challenge, Hosted by Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik and Let Music Fill My World, Returns for 2025

Mar. 15, 2025

John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting in May 2017.Photo:Paul Morigi/Getty

Paul Morigi/Getty

The Music Matters Challenge is back!

The nationwide competition is “aimed at rekindling the transformative power of music education in schools across the country,” per a press release.

“Music is the one true universal language. It gives voice to the voiceless, moves through unbreakable borders, and brings people together when words fail,” Ondrasik, 60, tells PEOPLE in a statement. “Imagine a world where every child has a music teacher. That is the goal of the music matters challenge, and let music fill my world. And what a world that would be.”

Cayley Tullman, co-founder of Let Music Fill My World and president of the Tullman Family Office, adds that she and the “100 Years” musician “are determined to inspire the next generation through the power of music.”

“We believe that music education in school empowers our youth to reimagine, re-envision, and reconnect in order to create a better future together. Music matters and let’s make sure everyone hears it!” she tells PEOPLE.

Per a press release, participants in the Music Matters Challenge can enter for a chance to win several prizes, including a $25,000 school grant, which will support music programming and initiatives; a $10,000 Cash Prize for the individual winner, which can be used to advance their music career; and a $300,000 grant for a full-time music teacher.

According to the release, the individual winner will also “help select a school to receive a grant up to $300,000 to fund the salary of a full-time music teacher for three years.”

John Ondrasik in March 2017.Steve Jennings/Getty

Steve Jennings/Getty

Last year’s individual prize winner was Jesse Robitaille, who used his cash prize to release music like “The Other Boys,” which won the Hollywood Independent Music Award for best rock/pop song.

In addition to the cash prize, Robitaille also assisted Let Music Fill My World with selecting a school to receive $300,000 for a three-year salary for a music teacher.

Last year’s $25,000 school prize winner was Arapahoe Holbrook Public School.

source: people.com