December 15th, 2025
NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is thrilled to announce that Susan Anderson from Asheville, North Carolina, is the 24th annual Grand Prize Winner.
During the Thursday, December 11, finals, Anderson shared five compositions that showcased her virtuosic violin playing, expansive vocals, and haunting lyrics. She was accompanied onstage by Isaac Hadden on electric guitar, who provided a tasteful sonic palette over which Susan painted her spellbinding songs. Her grand prize package includes a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, with vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl.
“Because of all of the people involved, both contestants and organizers, the entire finals night was full of warmth and camaraderie. Even still, there was a nervous energy in the air. But as soon as I put one foot on the stage I was flooded with gratitude for the opportunity and felt ready to rise up to the occasion,” says Anderson. “I had so much fun performing my songs, meeting people in the audience, and laughing with the other contestants backstage. It was an incredible night from every angle. Winning this competition feels like the door I’ve been knocking on for years has finally opened. I am so thankful for this chance and ready to run full speed into what comes next.”
Learn more about Anderson’s music here and sign up for her thoughtful Substack newsletter here.
The internationally recognized NewSong Music event, now in its 24th year, is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters today. The December 11 finale concert brought seven finalists from across the US to Asheville, NC, for an evening of songs and connection. The magical showcase of singer-songwriter performances ran the gamut from soulful Americana to indie-pop and from country roots to contemporary folk.
The runners up were Maddie Grandusky-Howe of Volena (Brooklyn, NY) and Jackson Grimm (Swannanoa, NC). The full lineup included: Alex Sheh (Santa Clara, CA), Annie Stokes (Leesburg, VA), Emily Johnson-Erday (Brooklyn, NY), and Katie Boeck (Nashville, TN). Finalists Dominique Bianco (Washington, DC) and Dustin Dale Gaspard (Abbeville, LA) were unable to attend.
Judges for the event, which took place at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, included Anna Pearson (Red Light Management), Kramer (Shimmy-Disc Records), Jeff Whitworth (Worthwhile Sounds & Avlfest) and Gar Ragland (NewSong Music & Citizen Vinyl).
As this year’s Grand Prize Winner, Susan Anderson joins NewSong Music’s impressive roster of artists such as Jobi Riccio, Crys Matthews, Slow Runner, Lindsay Foote, and others.
