Song Writing Contest
Music connects us and a song with great lyrics can truly open our hearts & touch our souls. If you have an original song, please enter it in the first annual Music for Humanity songwriting contest here. This is a songwriting contest so production will not be considered. A phone recording is fine as long as it is clear. All genres are welcome.
You can enter the song here. Each entry is only $25. We’ll award $1,000 for the best song and $500 for the runner-up at our free monthly concert series at Noble Coffee Roasters in Campbell Hall NY on Saturday night December 16th. At that event, the 158th MFH Free Performance Night, all 3 judges will be sharing some of their songs.
Winners will be invited to join us to share their songs. The best song winner will also be interviewed on John Burton’s award winning show “Home from Here.” Deadline to apply is Sunday November 19th at midnight. To be reminded please sign up for our email list here: http://eepurl.com/N5BJD
Our three judges: Elly Wininger, Dave Kearney and Barry Adelman, together, have hundreds of songs to their credit including some award winners. They are volunteering their time. By entering your song you agree that their decision will be final and there is no appeal.
Best of luck to you!!
Your 3 Judges
Elly Wininger
I have been writing and recording songs since the 70s. I have taught songwriting workshops at day camps, community centers, and arts societies. I developed a group songwriting program called “Our Song” that has been used by children, seniors, and people with developmental disabilities.
Awards
2008 Song of the Year Contest / Honorable Mention
2009 International Songwriting Contest / Honorable Mention
2010 Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival / Songwriting Finalist
2019 Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest Finalist / Instrumental Category
2020 Mid Atlantic Songwriting Contest Finalist Award / Blues/Jazz Vocal Category
2010- Elly Song “Housewife From Hell” Among the 10 most requested titles on Radio Teutoburger Wald / Herford, Germany.
Dave Kearney
Perhaps the reason that Dave Kearney’s songs are so powerful is that he has actually lived them. His heartfelt performances elicit nods of recognition, tears, and a line of people coming up to him after the show to tell him which song moved them the most.
Sometimes it’s the one about a wounding father/daughter relationship, or the tragedy of addiction, or a shattering love triangle, or a sacred experience of the natural world. Sure he has had influences. But that is not enough. And obviously he has studied his craft well. But it is the crucible of his life experiences that makes Kearney a commanding artist.
He also taught songwriting at The Woodstock Songwriters Workshop and at the Pine Hill Community Center as well as privately.
Barry Adelman
Barry Adelman began his musical journey learning the flute. After a few years he began learning classical and flamenco guitar. It was during that period when songs started to come to him. Most of them were songs of the heart, falling in love & breaking up. After a long relationship ended “Fireworks in July” magically appeared to help him resolve the end.
One day he stood up in his living room and said “Great Spirit, can’t you give me more meaningful songs than these songs of the heart.” Within a week “The Tree Song” appeared by Divine inspiration. Over the next few years many spiritual songs appeared including “Wherever We Come From”, “The Voice of God”, “The Journey Home”. These songs and others touched people’s hearts & souls. Then one day in 2005 he heard the voice of God and it whispered “Music for Humanity”. That experience led to the creation of the not-for-profit Music for Humanity.
Barry is the Co-Founder and “chief volunteer” of Music for Humanity since 2005. He has been the host of first the MFH open mic, and now the monthly MFH Free Performance Night which is into its 13th year. This event features 2-3 outstanding artists who play both covers & originals. It also includes some outstanding instrumentalists. You can hear many of Barry’s songs and the other performers at the Music for Humanity YouTube channel.