Sullivan –- whose songs draw inspiration from her own life experiences — was cited for her dedication to the craft, storytelling, stage demeanor, and immersion in the folk community. She beat out finalists Allison Strong and Us! (a trio comprised of AcousticMusicScene.com co-creator Glen Roethel, Judy Kass and Amy Soucy) in a competition that drew more than four times the number of applications than it has in previous years. The number of entries and quality of them made the listening- and decision-making process both time-consuming and challenging for judges Ron Olesko (a folk DJ and creator of Folk Music Notebook), Tina Ross (a singer-songwriter who won the award in 2022), and Debby St. Charles.

“I’m just so happy and grateful,” said Sullivan of receiving the award from the predominantly volunteer organization that that provides performance opportunities for and presents concerts by emerging and nationally touring singer-songwriters, and folk and acoustic musicians in DC, Maryland and Virginia. “To get that vote of confidence from the Focus Music judges has just felt so good. It comes at a time when I’m embarking on a third album and to have that message of support from the organization is really heartening and an encouraging reminder to keep on going,” she told AcousticMusicScene.com.

Sullivan — who primarily performs in the northeast U.S. and along the eastern seaboard —  describes her music as “story-driven folk.” She notes that the kind of songs that she personally loves are those that have a really vivid story attached to them – like ones penned by singer-songwriters Lori McKenna and Patty Griffin. “If you’re someone who likes music that’s going to immerse you in other people’s perspectives and stories, then my songs might be interesting to you,” she said.

In addition to McKenna and Griffin, she cites singer-songwriters Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert as major inspirations. Sullivan has participated in Ellis Paul’s New England Songwriter Retreats for a number of years. “Those experiences have been game changers for me in terms of inspiration and building community for songwriters,” she said. “Another inspiration for me has been Vance Gilbert,” whom she calls “a real honest and loving mentor.” Noting that he’s someone who doesn’t pull punches, she said: “He just pursues everything with honesty and joy, and I’d like to do that too.”

Music has long been a major part of Sullivan’s life. She recalls taking piano and voice lessons from her grandmother during childhood. However, she didn’t start playing guitar or writing songs until after graduating from Amherst College. While living in and teaching elementary school in New York City, she and Amy Speace, a college friend who is also a noted singer-songwriter, formed a band, Edith O. that performed at venues across the city and released an album called Tattooed Queen. Although marriage, children and her career in education (as both a teacher and an administrator) prompted her to put music on the back-burner for years, Sullivan resumed writing and performing in 2018 and released her debut album in 2021. Entitled We Can Have Each Other, it reached #10 on the monthly Folk Alliance International Folk Radio Charts, and was followed up in 2024 by Signposts and Marks, which reached #4 on the top albums chart during the month that it was released.

Sullivan was named the winner of the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Award during the 2025 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival in Richardson, Texas and looks forward to performing at the festival in May. She also was voted a “Most Wanted to Return” Artists by festival attendees following the Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase at the 2023 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, won the Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Competition that year, and has been a finalist in a number of other songwriting competitions.

Beyond providing recognition and support, the Heyman Rising Artist Award includes $1,000, which Sullivan plans to use towards producing her third album with Doug Kwartler at Hollow Body Studios near Boston, Massachusetts.

The Heyman Rising Artist Award is named for Vic and Reba Heyman, who were widely viewed as “folk angels” for their staunch, decades-long support of artists – especially those early in their careers. Reba Heyman, who passed away in June 2021 2021 at age 84, grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and lived in Rockville, MD for decades. Along with her husband Vic, who died years earlier, she was an integral part of the folk music community in Maryland, South Florida and nationally for many years. The couple was known for their generous financial backing for folk festivals and artists, and also formerly ran a concert series in Rockville known as Vic’s Music Corner. They also launched and ran Heyman Mailing Service for many years (a godsend for artists in the pre-Internet days), served on the boards of several music festivals, and established a scholarship fund for performing artists. In her later years, Reba Heyman spent considerable time in Florida and co-presented the South Florida Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition, whose winners received the Vic Heyman Songwriting Award – including a cash prize and the opportunity to perform at the festival.

Slated to showcase their talents during the concert that is set for 7 p.m. EST are Stephanie Corby, Ronny Cox, Terry Gonda and Kirsti Reeve, Lara Herscovitch, The Kennedys, Kate McDonnell, Dan Navarro, Tom Prasada-Rao, Jenny Reynolds, SONiA disappear fear, LisaBeth Weber, Annie Wenz, and Jack Williams. Also performing will be My One and Only, an Americana duo recently selected as the inaugural recipient of an annual Rising Artist Award established by Focus Music in honor of Reba and Vic Heyman. Several artists who could not be in Maryland for the tribute concert –- including Michael Bowers & Siobhan Quinn, Christine Lavin and John McCutcheon — will participate via pre-recorded videos.

Tickets for the tribute concert are $25 in advance ($25 at the door for members of the sponsoring organizations, $35 at the door for non-members and for virtual tickets) and include a video of the event that can be viewed live (for those who are not comfortable attending an in-person show) or online afterwards. “we felt the livestream was important since we know there are many outside of the DC area who felt the love Vic and Reba shared,” noted Shelley Caplan, Focus Music’s board secretary. “Also, in these times of COVID uncertainty, we wanted to provide an option for those not ready to attend an in-person show.” To order tickets and for more information on the concert and the performers, visit FocusMusic.org. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund future Rising Artist Awards.

Artists Share Their Reflections on Reba Heyman

In a Facebook post last June reflecting on Reba Heyman’s passing, Maura Kennedy of the folk-rock duo The Kennedys noted of her and Vic: “They were like parents to us and to so many, and they were always in our audience, right in the front row. Vic passed away several years ago [2009], but we still saw Reba every year when we played in Florida, often staying with her.”

Navarro told AcousticMusicScene.com that over the years, he saw the Heymans at music festivals and conferences and was struck by Reba’s easy charm, her savvy wit, and the depth of her connection with Vic. “Usually dressed alike, they were the ubiquitous folk community parent/grandparent figures, and we all loved them,” he said.

Navarro reflected on having played a memorial concert for Vic Heyman, also at the Olney Theatre, along with the late David Glaser. “”We coincidentally arrived wearing the exact same Scully “Nighthawk” western shirt, with no fallback wardrobe to keep us from looking like a Holiday Inn band in matching outfits. What to do, what to do? ‘I know,’ David said. ‘Let’s say we’re dressed as Vic and Reba!’ We did, and it worked.”

“Reba leaves a huge, heart-shaped hole in so many of our lives,” said Lara Herscovitch, a Connecticut-based singer-songwriter. “Reba and Vic believed in me before I believed in myself; they welcomed me in, showing me that I belong in this big folk music community and family. Any time spent with Reba was home-away-from-home – whether visiting her in Florida, Maryland, at Falcon Ridge, Kerrville, any of many Folk Alliance conferences, or on the phone,” she continued. “She brought such a deep interest in and care for the world, a great sense of adventure and humor, and a determined strength alongside profound warmth and care,” the former Connecticut State Troubadour noted. Expressing gratitude for “all the gifts of connection, spirit and love that she brought to the world,” Herscovitch told AcousticMusicScene.com: “She will remain an angel on my shoulder – and thousands of others – as we all carry the lessons of her and Vic’s legacy forward.”

An Azalea City Recordings artist, Kibel, whose song also took top honors in the contest’s instrumental category, is the founder and leader of The Alexandria Kleztet and has worked with other klezmer, jazz and swing bands. Kibel has been received 28 Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies) over the years.

Second Place Overall honors went to Owen Lyman-Schmidt (Driftwood Soldier) for “Upstanding Citizen,” a song that also captured the Gold in the vocal jazz/blues category, while Third Place Overall went to the songwriting team of Ryan Martinez, Mike Westbrock and Debra Gussin, whose “U So Mean Nothing 2 Me” was the top winner in the r&b/hip hop/urban category. Carolann Solebello, a Brooklyn, New York-based singer-songwriter, received the Director’s Choice Award for “Matches,” which also was the Silver Award (second place) winner in the folk/acoustic category.

With the exception of instrumentals, songs were evaluated based on five basic elements: melody/harmony, lyrics, flow (the mood, rhythm, dynamics), structure/contrast (between verse, chorus, bridge, etc.), and overall effect. Prizes were awarded to first and second place (gold and silver) winners in each of 12 categories — including folk/acoustic, folk-rock/Americana/roots rock, country/bluegrass, instrumental, open, and vocal jazz/blues — while finalists and honorable mention winners also were selected.

Gold and silver winners in each category were invited to perform their winning songs at the gala event during which the grand-prize winner and second- and third-place overall winners were named; each of the three received, among other prizes, cash awards and free registration to the 2017 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) and Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) conferences. The grand-prize winner also received a free registration to this year’s Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) Conference. The top two songs in each category will be included in a MASC Winners compilation CD, while Focus Music will invite one or two winners to perform in concert during 2017 in either Maryland or northern Virginia. Young Artist Award recipients were also named — Ross Monteith and Calvin Langman coming in first for their song “Dirty Imbecile,” while Taylor Gayle took second place for “Sophia’s Song.”

Below is a list of winners, finalists and those who received honorable mention for songs in the contest’s folk/acoustic and folk rock/Americana/roots rock categories. These are preceded by a listing of the winners in select other categories that may be of particular interest to AcousticMusicScene.com readers.

Adult Contemporary: Heather Mae, Gold, for “Stand Up;” Lara Herscovitch, Silver, for “Wonder Wheel”
Children’s: Lea Morris, Gold, for “Sweet Summer Days,” David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans, Silver, for “Treehugger”
Country/Bluegrass: Laurence Baer, Gold, for “White Pass Railroad,” Jeff Moxcey and Michael “Max” McGee, Silver, for “She Makes The Rain Shine”
Gospel/Inspirational/Christian: Laura Zucker, Gold, for “Say Yes;” Kevin T. Hale, Silver, for “Come Unto Me”
Open: Kipyn Martin, Gold, for “God Is Love;” Chris Hardy, Silver, for “Endless Possibilities”

Folk/Acoustic:

Gold: “Best Of You,” Crystal Hariu-Damore, Peter Damore (Ordinary Elephant)
Silver: “Matches,” Carolann Solebello
Finalists: “Bad For Me,” Emily Henry; “God Is Love,” Kipyn Martin, and “Grant And Lee,” Lynne Taylor
Honorable Mention: “Before The Fire,” Jane Fallon; “Caliber,” Heather Aubrey Lloyd; “Fais Do Do (A Cajun Lullaby),” Mike P. Ryan; “Found,” Owen Lyman-Schmidt (Driftwood Soldier); “Grand Canyon,” Brad Yoder; “Last Goodbye,” Austin MacRae; “The Bravest Thing,” Lara Herscovitch; “The Tribe,” Sharon Goldman, and “Up In Flames,” Austin MacRae

Folk Rock/Americana/ Roots Rock:

Gold: “Fais Do Do (A Cajun Lullaby),” Mike P. Ryan
Silver: “Incantations,” Christopher Mark Jones
Finalists: “On My Own,” Allison Dietz and Scott Smith; “Swamp Thing,” Denny Hemingson, Abel James and Dean Brown; and “Wherever You Are,” Tyler Shafer
Honorable Mention: “All In The Same Boat Now,” Byron Walls and Judith Walls Freeman; “Arkansas,” Emily White; “Drunken Eyes,” Olivia Greene; “Jacksonville,” Susan Kane; “Let Me Keep You Warm,” Allison Dietz and Scott Smith; “So Far From Home,” Ryan Minton, Chip Johnson and Michael Dasher; and “Someone New To Disappoint, Scott Ramminger

Established in 1979, the Songwriters’ Association of Washington (SAW) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to further excellence in songwriting through presenting educational programs and providing networking and performance opportunities for its members. SAW hosts open mics and showcases, workshops on the art and business of songwriting, and monthly peer critique sessions. It also publishes a monthly e-newsletter.

The one-day mini-conference is designed to give artists, presenters, folk DJs, agents and others engaged in the business of folk music a small taste of what takes place during the organizations’ respective annual multi-day conferences. The day will feature workshops, panel discussions, networking, and a 10-act juried showcase. Registration for the day is $50, and includes all activities as well as lunch and snacks. Admission to the showcase only is $15.

A panel of folk DJs and concert presenters selected the following showcase artists: Beggar’s Ride, RJ Cowdery, Lynda Dawson & Pattie Hopkins, Friction Farm, Susan Greenbaum Duo, Jacob Johnson, Lulu’s Fate, Kipyn Martin, Grant Peeples, and Simple Gifts. Each will perform a 15-minute set. Rob Lytle and Hiroya Tsukamoto were named as alternates, and Lytle also will perform a short set.

Prior to the showcases, attendees will participate in a morning speed-networking session and then choose from among an array of five afternoon workshops and panel discussions.

Registration forms for the conference are posted in the Regional One-Day Conferences drop-down menu that appears on the left side of the NERFA website (www.nerfa.org). Admission to the juried showcases only will be payable at the door by cash or check.

Here’s the day’s lineup:

9 a.m Registration and Continental Breakfast

10 a.m. Welcoming Remarks and Introductions

10:15 a.m. Speed Networking

Have your elevator speech ready as you move around the room to interact with an array of music leaders. This fun, structured process facilitates introductions and short conversations between people who don’t know each other. It also enables you to get answers to your most pressing questions regarding booking, promoting, recording, and other aspects of the folk music business.

11:45 a.m. Two concurrent 75-minute sessions

Blues, Banjos and Ballads: A Musical Conversation on Regional Folk Traditions: North Carolina-based singer-songwriter and Piedmont Blues picker Jon Shain and Virginia-based multi-instrumentalist and historian Gregg Kimball will lead a conversation/demonstration on some of the region’s classic folk traditions and their evolution in America — including balladry, old-time country and Piedmont Blues.

On The Griddle: Folk DJs Peter Jones (WTJU-FM, Charlottesville) and Anne Williams (WNRN-FM, Charlottesville), along with presenters Michael Jaworek (The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA) and Scott Moore (Focus Music) will serve as panelists during an instant critique session. Attendees will get a sense of how a radio DJ decides which recordings to add for airplay and why a presenter picks one artist instead of another. Prior to the session, interested artists will provide conference volunteers with copies of their latest CD emblazoned with a sticky note indicating the track that they want evaluated. In rapid-fire fashion, the CDs will be played in the order in which they were received and panelists will share their thoughts after listening to the first 60 seconds of a song.

1 p.m. Lunch (included with registration)

2 p.m. Three concurrent 90-minute sessions

Online Communications and Promotion: Michael Kornfeld, a veteran New York-based communications and public relations strategist, leads a highly participatory discussion that will delve into such topics as electronic press kits (EPKs), netiquette, social media, websites, and how artists and presenters can partner on concert promotion.

Presenters’ Forum: Scott Moore of Focus Music facilitates a free-flowing conversation among presenters — including those from volunteer-run coffeehouse and concert series, house concert hosts and for-profit venues — on various topics of interest to them. Panelists will include Michael Jaworek of The Birchmere and Jeremiah Jenkins of Red Wing Roots Festival, among others.

Why FREE Pays: Michael Johnathon, a Kentucky-based singer-songwriter and host of the widely syndicated “WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour,” recognizes that we live in a world in which many artists tour extensively and make tens and tens of dollars. He urges artists to employ a new “free” business model to reach a larger audience with their music. In this workshop, he’ll suggest ways that artists can think differently and take their cues from Facebook, Google, Twitter and YouTube — all of which give their product away and, in return, reap huge profits.

3:30 p.m. Networking and Snack Break

4 p.m. Juried showcases (15-minutes per artist/act)

More information about NERFA, SERFA and Folk Alliance International is available online at nerfa.org, serfa.org and folk.org, respectively.

Editor’s Note: Besides presenting a session on online communications and promotion, I am coordinating this conference with the much-valued assistance of a small steering committee. I’m also an elected board member of both Folk Alliance International and NERFA.

Prior to the showcases, conference attendees will have an opportunity to choose from among an array of morning and afternoon workshop sessions and to enjoy networking over lunch. Booking agents Robyn Boyd (Wooden Ship Productions) and Mary Granata (The Granata Agency), along with singer-songwriter Carolann Solebello, will discuss the nuts and bolts of “Booking and Touring.” Folk DJs Wanda Fischer (host of “Hudson River Sampler” on the Albany, NY-based WAMC Radio Network), Ron Olesko (host of “Traditions” on WFDU in Teaneck, NJ) and Joltin Joe Pszonek (host of “Radio Nowhere” on WMSC in Montclair, NJ) are among the panelists for “Get It Played – How to Get Radio Airplay for Your Music.” Wendy Keilin (The Prosperous Artist Revolution) and others will explore “Making Music AND Money.” Michael Kornfeld (communications & PR strategist, editor & publisher of AcousticMusicScene.com) and Jessica Wrubel (Razzi Entertainment) will delve into “Marketing and Promotion for Artists and Venues.” NJ-based presenters Gina Auriemma (Outpost in the Burbs), Sara Gallman (Music at the Mission) and Scott Sheldon (Sanctuary Concerts) will discuss “Taking Your Coffeehouse to the Next Level.” Mary Granata moderates NERFA’s popular “On the Griddle” instant critique session, during which Bill Brandenburg (Outpost in the Burbs), Scott Moore (Focus Music) and WFDU’s Ron Olesko will share their thoughts in rapid-fire fashion after listening to the first 60 seconds of a song as submitted on CDs with sticky notes by interested artists prior to the start of the session.

In addition, “The Interview Room” will provide up to 20 ten-minute slots to performing artists who have not been chosen for the juried showcases, during which they will be interviewed by a folk DJ or journalist and perform one song live. The performances and interviews will be recorded so that artists can use their session for website/marketing/promotion purposes, says Joe Pszonek. DJs can also use the audio for their shows if they choose, he adds. Interested performing artists may apply by visiting the Facebook group: NJ NERFA Music Conference Artist Interview Room and requesting to join. Once added, you can, post a link to a brief bio and one mp3 of the song that you plan to perform if selected. Friday, March 14 is the deadline to post the link. Participating folk DJs and/or journalists will select their interview choice(s) starting on that date, and applicants will be notified by March 26.

An online registration form for the NERFA New Jersey Area One-Day Mini-Conference appears in the drop-down menu on the left side of the organization’s website. Conference registration is $40 through March 15 and $50 after that date. The juried showcases, beginning at 4 p.m., also will be open to the public for a nominal fee.

NERFA is part of the larger Folk Alliance International, an association that aims to foster and promote multicultural, traditional and contemporary folk music, while strengthening and advancing organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.

A panel of judges – including Anne Hills (the featured performing songwriter at Avalonfest 2010), Scott Moore (vice president of Focus Music and a house concert presenter in Maryland), Shari Gallery (concerts chair for the Hampshire County Arts Council), and Sue Trainor (a performing songwriter and member of the all-female trio, Hot Soup) – will select four finalists. They will perform their songs at Avalonfest on Aug. 13, with the winner to play a paid 30-minute set the following day.

Now in its 13th year, Avalonfest is a music, arts and craft festival that takes place August 7-9 at a clothing-optional resort and campground near Paw Paw, West Virginia. Besides Hills, artists slated to perform during the festival include Craig Bickhardt, Creole Stomp, ilyAIMY, Iona, David Kleiner (winner of the Avalonfest 2009 Performing Songwriter Competition), Guy Mendilow Band, Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade, Resonance, The Two Man Gentlemen Band and Randall Williams.

A complete list of application procedures, contest rules and prizes can be found online at www.avalon-resort.com and www.sonicbids.com.