I am a professional social worker in Wisconsin and a few years back I served as a Red Cross disaster relief mental health worker in the weeks after Hurricane Katrina. I served about two weeks in Mississippi. I was interested in how music might impact people who were in crisis after a traumatic event so I took my harmonica with me and found it to be useful in getting a positive response from people waiting in line for services. The music seemed to be a positive for people across racial and cultural lines. So I think there is value in learning more about the use of music as response to crisis and trauma.
Bob Fresen
2010 Songwriting Contest
Launched in 2000, our Music2Life contest attracts Musician Activists, domestically and abroad, who submit songs of social and political significance and propose ways in which their music can make the world a better place.
The contest typically receives hundreds of songs which are evaluated by legendary and contemporary songwriter/performers including: Judy Collins, Kathy Mattea, Christine Lavin, Holly Near, Tom Paxton, Josh White, Jr., Amy Carol Webb, Tom Chapin, Peter Yarrow, Paul Winter, Baby Jay and Noel Paul Stookey. The judging process results in ten finalists who perform at a special concert at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and receive live recordings of their show with free distribution through CD Baby and other channels, travel stipends, sponsor gifts and donations to the charities of their choice. One grand prize winner opens for the Festival on their main stage.
After the contest, winning songs are further promoted by connecting them with nonprofit organizations for use in outreach and educational programs.
Contest entrants may choose to be considered for our highly competitive Music2Life Fellows program. See contest guidelines below for details.
2010 Contest Winners
These eleven finalists shared their original songs at an Musi2Life concert at The Kerrville Folk Festival on June 5, 2010. The grand prize award winner joined other festival performers at the main Outdoor Theatre for Saturday evening's performance.
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Amy Dixon-Kolar Fox River Grove, IL (1st RUNNER UP)
Rosa Sat
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Brian Claflin Somerville, MA
Indiana In The Summertime (for John McCain & Mike Pence)
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David Ippolito New York, NY
Resolution
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Emily Kurn Anchorage, AK
Mississippi Moon
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Kathleen Pemble Cold Spring, NY
Johnny's Not Marching
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Mitch Barrett Berea, KY
Drop In The Bucket
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Ric Taylor Los Angeles, CA
I See Jesus
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Sofia Echegaray Austin, TX (tie for-2nd RUNNER UP)
Nickel And Dime
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Stephen Deasy Frendale, MI
People Once Were Welcome Here
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Steve Chizmadia Peekskill, NY (GRAND PRIZE WINNER)
Wall Street Fat Cat Taxpayer Bail-out Blues
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Vanessa Torres Portland, ME (tie for-2nd RUNNER UP)
Love Some More
Click here to download our contest guidelines (PDF file).
