BitCrush: Evanston’s First Music + Code Competition
The BitCrush Music + Code Competition, a new kind of performance, debuts on May 10 at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center as part of a day celebrating science, technology engineering, math and music. (STEMM)
The first-of-its kind event invites students from 5th grade through college to create original, tech-powered music performances that blend coding, sound, and stage presence—all for a panel of judges and a live audience.
BitCrush is free to join and doesn’t require any specialized equipment. Whether it’s rapping over beats generated with Python, coding soundscapes live, or dancing to rhythms shaped by real-time code, BitCrush pushes students to combine creativity with computer science in bold new ways.
Competition Details
- 5th Grade Competition: May 10, 2025 at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center (1655 Foster St, Evanston, IL)
- High School & College Competition: June 7, 2025 at Northwestern University
Who Can Participate?
Student teams of 1 to 4 members from Chicago, Evanston, or the surrounding areas can enter in one of four tracks:
- 5th Grade
- Middle School
- High School
- College
Team Coaching
Every team will be matched with a coach from Northwestern University—a student mentor who will help them craft and refine their performance.
Powered by Music + Code
BitCrush celebrates live-coded music, where students use platforms like EarSketch, Sonic Pi, TunePad, SuperCollider, and others to create performances in real time. Teams are encouraged to mix code with vocals, instruments, and dance to create a fully original act.
Judging & Prizes
Teams will be judged on musicality, creativity, technical skill, entertainment value, and live coding execution. Winners will take home the one-of-a-kind BitCrush Broken Heart Trophy, plus additional prizes, giveaways, and STEM activity packs.
More Than a Competition
Each event will also feature food, games, live music, STEM activities, and fun for the whole family—making BitCrush not just a competition, but a community celebration.
BitCrush is presented by Northwestern University and Evanston/Skokie School District 65, with generous support from the National Science Foundation and sponsor organizations. The event is based largely on the work by Michael Horn, the Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence at Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy and the McCormick School of Engineering.
Learn more, sign up, or see examples of live-coded music in action.