As a participant in the Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals,Josh Rothman's mission was to produce a song falling under the theme "Our Changing World," and musically capture the ways today's youth are positively changing the world. His entry, entitled Math Rock, recently brought home the top prize for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Southwest region.Now on behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Rothman will vie for the national title and a free summer trip to Minneapolis to gain hands-on tech experience.

"The Club Tech Digital Arts Festival allows our members to experiment with the art of creating music to find the hidden musician or composer within themselves. Because music is such a powerful form of self-expression, this is a unique opportunity for our members to convey their innermost thoughts," said Dan Rauzi, senior director, Youth and Technology Programs, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "It's amazing what our young people can do when given access to technology."

The Festivals are a part of the Club Tech program, a partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Microsoft, and Best Buy Children's Foundation to equip millions of youth like 16-year-old Rothman with the advanced technology skills needed to succeed in school and the workplace.

Club Tech's Digital Arts program introduces local members to the world of digital movie making, photo illustration, graphic design, music production and Web design.Members like Rothman who are interested in music production discover the world of digital-music making, from the basics to the most advanced. Club members learn how to write sheet music and compose tunes through the use of music tracks, sound effects and filters. Loops, music theory and sequencing round out the techniques taught to the Club's aspiring music producers.Upon completion, they are encouraged to utilize their newly acquired skills to compete in the Digital Arts Festivals.

"To succeed in today's technology-driven world, digital literacy skills are key and almost always expected," said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Through the Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals we're bridging the digital divide and giving all kids of various ages and backgrounds the opportunity to explore technology in ways they never imagined possible."