 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 11, 2009
Five winners chosen in international finals of 2009 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest in Charleston, WV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Five co-winners were announced in the international finals of the 2009 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, held Saturday, Oct. 10, in the state Culture Center theater in the state Capitol Complex here. The winners are: Reed Waddle of Boston, Mass.; Grace Pettis of Austin, Texas; Liz Longley of Philadelphia, Penn.; David Via, of Greensboro, N.C.; and Betty Soo of Austin, Texas.
Pettis was then chosen by "Mountain Stage" host Larry Groce to appear along with Southern Culture on the Skids, the Squirrel Nut Zippers and other acts on the Oct. 12 "Mountain Stage" show, performed and recorded live on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Pettis also won "Best Song" for her "9 to 5 Girl."
A crowd of about 200 people watched each performer deliver two songs. Then, a four-person panel of judges deliberated as a wine and food reception took place in the Great Hall of the Culture Center.
NewSong director and co-founder Gar Ragland said afterwards it was not easy picking the winners from among the talented performers on display. "We had more than 1,000 entries from across North America, so these finalists were among the most accomplished performing songwriters anywhere."
In announcing his pick for whom among the co-winners would win the grand prize of a "Mountain Stage" appearance, Groce said his decision could have gone several ways. "It's very possible I may add more than one of these co-winners to "Mountain Stage in the future."
The NewSong Contest is open to performers in a wide variety of genres, from folk to blues, world music to pop. The NewSong judges look for performers who excel not only in the art and craft of songwriting, "but who can deliver outstanding live performances of their own songs," said Ragland.
"It was a superb concert and a wonderful display of great songcraft and excellent showmanship," he said. "We urge musicians and performers who write and perform their own music to stay tuned for news of the 2010 contest through our Web site, Twitter and Facebook fan page."
CO-WINNER CO-WINNER & BEST SONG WINNER CO-WINNER CO-WINNER CO-WINNER Liz Longley
Philadelphia, PA
Grace Pettis
Austin, TX
Reed Waddle
Boston, MADavid Via
Greensboro, NC
Betty Soo
Austin, TX
Tell a friend, Facebook the contest results and also join NewSong's Facebook page for the latest on NewSong events and activities. Visit the NewSong Web site at www.newsong-music.com. Or follow NewSong at twitter.com/NewSong_Music.
For media interviews about NewSong or with contest winners, or print-quality photographs, contact the NewSong office at 347.410.7311 | contest@newsong-music.com.
You can enjoy music from all of our finalists on our website's audio player (click the 'music' link on the homepage).
