Songwriting University & Partners, The Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation & Gibson Gives, Announce Winners of First Annual Christmas Songwriting Contest

Nashville's innovative Songwriting University (SU), in partnership with the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation and Gibson Gives-the charitable arm of Gibson guitars-has announced the winners of their first annual Christmas Songwriting Contest. The three powerhouse organizations joined forces to not only discover the next generation of songwriters, but to provide critically-needed support for cancer patients, families, and research.
Five dollars of every contest entry supported the work of the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, founded by Olympic gold medalist and cancer survivor Scott Hamilton. His foundation is dedicated to funding advanced, innovative research that treats the cancer and spares the patient.The grand prize winner received a Gibson Les Paul guitar, courtesy of Gibson Gives.
Songwriting University, whose unique services and world-class staff have been profiled in ForbesMagazine, among other media outlets, provided a distinguished panel of songwriters, artists, producers, and music professionals, including award-winning songwriters Buddy Greene ("Mary Did You Know") and Wayne Kirkpatrick ("Change the World"), along with trail-blazing music industry manager and record executive Michael Blanton (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Reunion Records), to select the ten outstanding finalists who were awarded thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including a check for $1,500 in addition to the Gibson Les Paul guitar for the grand prize winner.
Given the extraordinary circumstances of 2020, the contest offered a unique platform for songwriters to express their creativity, inspire others through their art and do it all for a good cause.
"We were so honored to partner with Scott Hamilton and his foundation for this contest," says Michael Blanton, one of Songwriting University's founders. "To be able to provide some levity and light at the end of such a dark year was an honor and a testament to the healing power of song."
This year's grand prize winner, who walked away with $1,500 and a brand new Gibson Les Paul guitar, is Abigail Orsborn for her song, "Two Christmases." In 2nd place, receiving $500 and a brand new Gibson Les Paul guitar,is H. Jack Williams with "One Little Boy."
The remaining finalists are listed below. The third, fourth, and fifth place winners will receive a two-hour songwriting session with a hit songwriter($499 value), and the sixth through tenth place finalists will receive a one-year subscription to SU/MasterClass ($90 value).
3rd - "The Only Thing I Want More" by Cam Monroe
4th - "Why Christmastime" by Derek Toomey
5th - "Angels In the Snow by Julie Broschard
6th - "A Much More Silent Night" by Lori Lee Loving
7th - "Peace for Your Christmastime" by David Powers
8th - "Highly Favored" by Dave Lemieux
9th - "It's a Santa Claus Thing" by Darrell John
10th - "Christmas Cookies" by Jennifer Smestad
Per the terms of the contest, winners were chosen in an anonymous, blind judging process, with the names, bios, and addresses of the songwriters hidden from the judges. Winning songs were selected for originality, melody, lyrics and composition/structure. Performance and recording quality were not considered.
For more information on Songwriting University, visit SongwritingU.com.
Tags : Songwriting University Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation Christmas Songwriting Contes Gibson Gives
Hot Trends
-
Michael Tait Accused of Watching Woman Raped During Newsboys Tour
-
Newsboys Dropped From Label Amid Michael Tait Scandal
-
CCM Artists Call for Reform Amid Allegations Against Michael Tait: “Secrecy Always Destroys”
-
TobyMac Accused of Dabbling with Satanic Occult
-
Cory Asbury Speaks Out: "Everyone Knew" About Michael Tait Allegations
-
Christian Author Lysa Terkeurst Divorcing Husband After 'Worst Kind of Betrayal'
-
NEEDTOBREATHE’s Bear Rinehart Responds to Brother’s Allegations, Reveals Shared Childhood Trauma
-
Former Mutemath Drummer Darren King Identifies Himself as a Victim of Michael Tait’s Alleged Misconduct
-
Kevin Max Explains Audio Adrenaline Departure in Open Letter (Read Here)
-
Michael Tait Faces Additional Allegations from 6 More Men, Including Two Minors
-
NEEDTOBREATHE Frontman Bear Rinehart Accused by Younger Brother Bo of Sexual Abuse
-
Newsboys' Michael Tait Joins Capital Chuch for their 37th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial
-
Lysa TerKeurst’s 22-Yr-Old Daughter Breaks Silence About Her Dad’s Affair
-
Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Tait, Ashley Smith & Others to Appear at 2015 K-LOVE Fan Awards
-
Here Are Lyrics to Passion's "The Lord Will Provide"
Most Popular
-
Michael Tait Accused of Watching Woman Raped During Newsboys Tour
-
Newsboys Dropped From Label Amid Michael Tait Scandal
-
CCM Artists Call for Reform Amid Allegations Against Michael Tait: “Secrecy Always Destroys”
-
TobyMac Accused of Dabbling with Satanic Occult
-
Cory Asbury Speaks Out: "Everyone Knew" About Michael Tait Allegations
-
Christian Author Lysa Terkeurst Divorcing Husband After 'Worst Kind of Betrayal'
-
NEEDTOBREATHE’s Bear Rinehart Responds to Brother’s Allegations, Reveals Shared Childhood Trauma
-
Former Mutemath Drummer Darren King Identifies Himself as a Victim of Michael Tait’s Alleged Misconduct
-
Kevin Max Explains Audio Adrenaline Departure in Open Letter (Read Here)
-
Michael Tait Faces Additional Allegations from 6 More Men, Including Two Minors
-
NEEDTOBREATHE Frontman Bear Rinehart Accused by Younger Brother Bo of Sexual Abuse
-
Newsboys' Michael Tait Joins Capital Chuch for their 37th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial
-
Lysa TerKeurst’s 22-Yr-Old Daughter Breaks Silence About Her Dad’s Affair
-
Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Tait, Ashley Smith & Others to Appear at 2015 K-LOVE Fan Awards
-
Here Are Lyrics to Passion's "The Lord Will Provide"