Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Contest Open With $10K Prize

From Bethesda Arts District:The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District announces the fourth annual Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards. The adjudicated competition is seeking the best local songwriters and will award one talented songwriter a Grand Prize of $10,000. The award also includes a young songwriter category for which an aspiring songwriter who is younger than 18 will have the chance to win $2,500. New this year, the Grand Prize Winner will also be awarded 25 hours of recording studio time with Innovation Station Music.

Founded by Bethesda resident and arts philanthropist, Cathy Bernard, the competition is named in honor of Fred Ebb, Bernard’s uncle and renowned American songwriter. Ebb was the creator of Broadway hits such as Cabaret and Chicago and iconic songs including New York, New York.

Full-time residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible to apply. Applicants are invited to submit three original songs. Each song must have lyrics. All genres of music are accepted. Maximum song length is 4:30min.

The competition’s first round judges, who include professional artists, booking agents and music academia, will choose the semifinalists. A grand prize jury will then select the finalists who will each perform two of their original songs for a live audience on Friday, March 2, 2018, at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club. The award winners will be announced at the close of the show.

The 2018 Grand Prize Jurors

• Sarah Brindell, Associate Professor of Songwriting at Berklee College of Music and a songwriter, arranger, producer, pianist, and vocalist. Sarah has shared the stage and recorded with renowned artists including Norah Jones, Carole King, and Raul Midon.
• Roger Brown, Nashville-based songwriter whose credits include Kenny Chesney’s “She Gets That Way,” Randy Travis’ “That’s Where I Draw The Line,” Barbara Streisand’s “We Must Be Loving Right,” Patty Loveless’ “Born Again Fool,” among others.
• Nathan Tysen, Musical Theatre Lyricist and winner of the 2014 Fred Ebb Award for musical theatre songwriting and 2014 Edward Kleban Prize for most promising lyricist. Nathan is the lyricist of the critically acclaimed and Tony-nominated musical Tuck Everlasting. Current projects include an adaptation of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film Amélie, and commissions from Lincoln Center Theater and Playwrights Horizons.

Songwriters can apply online at Bethesda.org. Entries must be received by Monday, November 6, 2017.

Over the last three years the Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards has received a combined 650+ applications from regional songwriters. The 2017 winners were Lea Morris of Alexandria, VA who took home the $10,000 Grand Prize and Calista Garcia of Arlington, VA who won the $2,500 Young Songwriter Prize. Previous Grand Prize winners include Justin Jones (2016) and Owen Danoff (2015).

Tickets to attend the fourth annual concert will be available January 2018 at www.bethesda.org.

Please visit www.bethesda.org or call 301/215-6660 for more information.

From award-winning theatre to independent films, downtown Bethesda’s Arts & Entertainment District is filled with inspiring artists and art venues. The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc., and is the producer of The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards, Bethesda Painting Awards, Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, Bethesda Film Fest and Play In A Day.

Image Courtesy of Bethesda Arts District