Song Writing Contest
We'll start another songwriting contest on May 1, 2026!
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 third 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. Songs will be judged based on Melody, Lyrics, Song Structure, and Overall Originality.
Each entry is only $25. We’ll award $1,000 for the best song and $500 for the runner-up, plus a number of honorable mentions at our free monthly concert series at Noble Coffee Roasters in Campbell Hall NY on Saturday night December 19, 2026.
The best song winner will also be interviewed in 2027 on John Burton’s award-winning show “Home from Here.” The deadline to apply is Monday, November 30, 2026 at Noon. To be reminded please sign up for our email list here: http://eepurl.com/N5BJD
Our three judges: Jon Stein, Sharon Klein, and Don Sarlin 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.
See & hear the winning entries/lyrics and the honorable mentions from 2025, 2024 and 2023 by clicking each year’s link. Best of luck to you!!
Your 3 Judges
Jon Stein
Jon Stein started his musical endeavors in the 1970s as a singer songwriter playing in local venues in Albuquerque, NM while attending UNM. In the mid 70’s he help started the second incarnation of the Hudson River Sloop Singers with Pete Seeger. He remained a sloop singer until the early 80’s. He them refocused his attention as being a solo singer songwriter and recorded an album (LP) in 1984 – Sailing Home. Shortly thereafter he formed a band along with Drew Gorman and Ben Larkey. They called themselves “Riverrun”.
However, in Sept of 1983, before recording the album, he was asked if he would like to host a folk show on WFDU in Teaneck, NY. He jumped at the opportunity. He had a very popular folk show from 1983 to 1990.
In 1996, he was asked to host a folk show on a local station – WTBQ. Back them the station was in Florida, NY under the helm of Frank Truatt. The station eventually moved to Warwick, NY. Jon moved with the station and is entering his 30th year as the host of the popular HOOTENANNY CAFE RADIO SHOW.
In 2010 Jon started two new formats on his show.
One segment is called the Mini Concert, which features a particular Indie Singer Songwriter.
The other segment, also Indie Singer Songwriter based is called the Singer Songwriter Showcase and segment is based on a different theme that is available to singer songwriters from all over. Each week he receives a bucnch of great songs from Singer Songwriters answering the call for specific themes.
Through the years Jon has had the pleasure of getting to know, and listening to, many outstanding Singer Songwriters. Though he still gives an occasional performance of his own songs, he has become extremely passionate presenting singer songwriters to an ever expanding listenership. The show streams all around the world on Sundays at 9PM (Est) on wtbq.com
And again every Tues and Fri at 10PM (Est) on bellbuckleradio.com
And, then, on his website, Hootenannycafe.com
Jon hopes to continue presenting Indie Singer Songwriters for a long time to come.
Sharon Klein
Sharon Klein, a veteran of the Greenwich Village music scene of the 80s and 90s and a regular performer on the contemporary folk and Americana music scene in the Hudson Valley, and at the Neve Shalom music festival in Israel.
Sharon is an also a singer and accomplished finger style guitar player. She wrote her first song at 17 and landed a publishing deal with Burt Bachrach’s publishing company in her early 20s.
Sharon has had her music performed in such varied places as the Superbowl, U.S. Tennis open, and Saturday Night Live.
She has written over 200 songs. She will be teaching a songwriting for beginners course at Bard College for the summer semester 2025.
Don Sarlin
Don Sarlin, guitarist and singer-songwriter, began his musical career in his teens and has toured with Van Morrison, David Bromberg, Mary Travers, Dean Friedman, Esther Phillips and others. His time on stage with such folks inspired him to write songs of his own.
He’s described his works as “screenplay songs,” capturing characters, a plot, a place and a time, and performs them with memorable solo guitar instrumentals as well. He’s also been known to share stories of his remarkable and sometimes terrifying adventures as a kid in the big time on the road.
In addition to songwriting and performance, he co-founded The TriSonics, an acoustic trio featuring guitar, dobro and bass, with three genre-jumping albums of original music to date. Hear his music at donsarlin.com.