{"id":8723,"date":"2016-05-05T22:44:55","date_gmt":"2016-05-06T02:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/acousticmusicscene.com\/?p=8723"},"modified":"2016-05-05T22:46:55","modified_gmt":"2016-05-06T02:46:55","slug":"winners-named-in-24th-annual-chris-austin-songwriting-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acousticmusicscene.com\/2016\/05\/05\/winners-named-in-24th-annual-chris-austin-songwriting-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"Winners Named in Chris Austin Songwriting Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Finalists<\/a>
Finalists in the 24th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest are shown with Jim Lauderdale and the judges (Photo: Jim Thompson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>Winners were named in the 24th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest 2016, following performances by finalists on April 29 during the popular roots-oriented music festival held at the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. <\/p>\n

This year\u2019s contest attracted nearly 750 entries in four categories (bluegrass, country, general and gospel). Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale served as volunteer contest chairperson and led a songwriting mentoring session, along with the on-site judges, in which all of the finalists took part.<\/p>\n

The winners in the bluegrass and general categories are listed below. <\/p>\n

Bluegrass<\/strong>: First Place: Aaron Biebelhauser (Louisville, KY) for \u201cBlue Collar Dreams,\u201d Second Place: Courtney Rorrer (Madison, NC) and Asa Gravely (Beckley, WV) for \u201cMidnight Tears,\u201d and Third Place: Cindy Giejda (Farmingdale, NJ) for \u201cJail Break.\u201d<\/p>\n

General<\/strong>: First Place: Sarah Sample (Sheridan, WY) for \u201cA Heart That Falls apart\u201d and Adam Bonomo (Brooklyn, NY) for \u201cRedshifted,\u201d and Second Place: David Morris (Gaithersburg, MD) and Chris Dockins (Burke, VA) for \u201cWeeds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although AcousticMusicScene.com generally does not cover country and gospel music, the winners in those categories are as follows:<\/p>\n

Country: First Place: Buddy Guido (Mohawk, NY), Paul Kelly (Santa Fe, NM) and Willie Scheollkopf (Buffalo, NY) for \u201cThis Livin\u2019 May Be Killing Me,\u201d Second Place: Sarah Morris (Shoreview, MN) for \u201cI Go Back,\u201d and Third Place: Meris Gantt of Handlebar Betty (Blowing rock, NC) for \u201cHouse of Cards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gospel\/Inspirational: First Place: Marcy Each (Cedar Rapids, IA) for \u201cOn the Cross Built for Me,\u201d Second Place: Austin Stanley (Nashville, TN) for \u201cThe Face of God,\u201d and Third Place: Corey Smith and Allen Smith (Fayetteville, NC) for \u201cThe Road.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest was established to honor the memory of Chris Austin, a songwriter and former sideman for Ricky Skaggs. Austin\u2019s life was tragically cut short when a private plane carrying him and six other members of Reba McEntire\u2019s band, as well as her tour manager, crashed in California in 1991. In the contest that is open to those whose primary source of income is not derived from songwriting or publishing, songs are judged based on originality, lyrics, melody and overall commercial potential. Previous winners of the contest include Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt, Michael Reno Harrell, Adrienne Young, Martha Scanlan, David Via, Eliot Bronson and Johnny Williams. Net proceeds from the contest help support the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship that has provided financial support to 81 students since its inception.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1988 in memory of the late Eddy Merle Watson, son of American music legend Doc Watson, MerleFest is considered one of America\u2019s premier music festivals. Initially created to celebrate \u201ctraditional plus\u201d music \u2013 a mix of music based on the traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region — the four-day event now embraces Americana, country, blues, rock and other musical styles as well. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winners were named in the 24th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest 2016, following performances by finalists on April 29 during the popular roots-oriented music festival held at the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. <\/p>\n

[To continue reading this article, click on the 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