Tuesday, February 9. Asheville, NC – LEAF Festival and NewSong Music are proud to announce the third annual NewSong Presents: LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition. With a mission to empower and elevate the professional development of singer-songwriters, LEAF and NewSong have joined forces to discover and celebrate the very best local, regional and national talent.
The contest is now accepting online mp3 submissions , and the final deadline to enter is Monday, April 4. The ‘Early Bird’ discounted submission deadline is March 4. Judges will select eight finalists from the online submissions, who will then be invited to perform in the live performance finals at the Spring LEAF Festival on Saturday, May 14, 2016. A panel of judges at the finals will select the overall winner of the competition.
The grand prize winner will be awarded a paid, featured performance at the Fall 2016 LEAF Festival (October 20-23 in Black Mountain), including lodging & accommodations. The grand prize winner will also advance as a finalist in the 2016 international NewSong Showcase and Competition, held later this year at New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
All eight finalists will each receive a complimentary LEAF Festival performer pass for Saturday, May 14 to perform in the live finals.
The 2016 LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, produced in partnership with NewSong, take place in The Barns – a historic landmark at Lake Eden in Black Mountain, NC. The Barns served as an important classroom and venue of the historic Black Mountain College and was built by its illustrious students.
Now in its third year, the NewSong Presents: LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition was created as a platform for artists who have a wealth of talent, but limited access to the big stage. The goal is to provide a springboard for singer-songwriters of all genres, everywhere – to share art, shine on stage, and become household names within the LEAF, NewSong, and greater music community. Last year’s second annual grand prize winner was Duluth, Minnesota’s Rachael Kilgour, who as the LEAF winner advanced to the live performance finals of the international NewSong Showcase & Competition finals at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, which she ultimately won.
“I loved my time in North Carolina and at LEAF, thank you for the incredible opportunity! I am inspired,” stated Kilgour. “I so enjoyed connecting with the other finalists and hearing their work. I think we all felt grateful to perform in such a sweet space to such an attentive and encouraging audience – a songwriter can’t ask for much more than that.”
The cost to enter is $25 for one song, $40 for two songs and $50 for three songs.
Discounted ‘Early Bird’ submission rates are $20 for one song, $35 for two and $45 for three songs.
A portion of the contest proceeds will support the non-profit LEAF Schools and Streets music & arts education program.
Submit your songs safely and securely online at www.newsong-music.com/LEAF
IMPORTANT 2016 LEAF-NEWSONG SINGER-SONGWRITER COMPETITION DATES
Tuesday, February 9 – Online submission platform opens for entries
Friday, March 4 – ‘Early Bird’ discounted submission deadline (11:59 PM ET)
Monday, April 4 – Final deadline to enter
Friday, April 15 – Finalists announced
Saturday, May 14 – Live performance finals at the Spring LEAF Festival (May 7-10)
CLICK HERE TO ENTER
“One of the greatest gifts we have to offer is our music and our story. The Second Annual NewSong Presents: LEAF Singer Songwriter Competition gives musicians everywhere an opportunity to share their journey within an amazing setting, surrounded by an incredibly supportive community, for an opportunity to elevate their craft to the Big Stage!” ~ Ehren Cruz, LEAF Performing Arts Director
“Our partnership with LEAF to produce the annual LEAF-NewSong Singer-Songwriter Competition has quickly become one of the highlights of our annual suite of programs,” says Gar Ragland, NewSong Music’s founder and president, who produces the event. “Last year’s second annual LEAF-NewSong competition attracted a very talented and eclectic group of artists from across the country, including Minnesota’s Rachael Kilgour, who as the LEAF winner advanced to perform and ultimately win the grand prize of our international live performance and songwriting competition at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. I look forward to discovering what new talent comes our way again in this year’s LEAF-NewSong Competition!”
About LEAF
May 2016 marks the 42nd LEAF Festival for the larger organization, LEAF Community Arts (LEAF). LEAF is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission to connect cultures and create community through music and arts. The programs of LEAF include LEAF Schools & Streets; LEAF International and LEAF Festival. Attendance at LEAF Festival provides a family-friendly weekend experience infused with music and arts while supporting the long-term vision of the organization. Since 2004, LEAF has served over 41,000 youth with programs in over 15 community locations and in 10 countries worldwide. Get involved or find out more at www.theLEAF.org.
About NewSong Music
NewSong Music is an independent artist development company headquartered at Asheville, NC’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios. NewSong’s mission is to build and support a community of performers and songwriters across all genres and levels of skill, and to identify the truly exceptional artists to introduce their music to a broader, international audience.
Its programs include a record label (NewSong Recordings), artist management services, concert production and the annual, international NewSong performance and songwriting competition. Its presenting partners include Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, NPR’s Mountain Stage and the ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival. www.newsong-music.com
