"To promote the enjoyment, preservation and continuation of the living art of folk music."

Youth Song Competition &

Old Time Country Dance

SPONSOR

THE 2009 SAVANNAH AREA YOUTH SONGWRITING COMPETITION


 

At 2:00 PM will be the finals of the “Youth Song Writing Competition.” This is the culmination of a contest between youth (under 20 years old) from Savannah-Chatham County and Georgia counties adjacent to Chatham as well as Jasper and Beaufort Counties in South Carolina. For the best original song in the acoustic folk tradition. Winners divide $1,000 in prizes from event sponsor, AMR Music. The first place winner is also given the opportunity to present the winning song on Sunday, October 11th at the Festival’s grand finale.

Sept. 1, 2009 is the deadline for entries to the fourth annual Youth Songwriting Competition at the Savannah Folk Music Festival. Start now with original compositions and compete for $1,000 in prizes!
The 20th Annual Savannah Folk Music Festival, presented by the Savannah Folk Music Society on October 9, 10 and 11, 2009, will feature the finals of a Youth Songwriting Competition . The purpose of this competition is to encourage young people from the greater Savannah area to develop their skills in musical and lyrical expression, promote the time-honored method of storytelling by song, and recognize outstanding achievement in these efforts.

Any resident of Chatham, Bryan, Effingham or Liberty Counties in Georgia or Beaufort or Jasper Counties in South Carolina, who has not reached his or her twentieth birthday by the conclusion of the competition, October 10, 2009, is eligible to participate. Only those who have won first place in the previous years of competition are ineligible to participate. Those wishing to participate must submit a song (original words and music), written in the acoustic folk ballad tradition, by September 1st, 2009 on cassette tape or compact disk. The songwriter may accompany him or herself or have one or more other individuals provide instrumental accompaniment. By “acoustic folk tradition” the competition includes story-song ballads and excludes the use of back-tracks and percussion. Only one entry per person per year, please.

From those entries submitted by the September 1st deadline, a panel of judges will use common criteria to select a group of finalists. These finalists will be notified and asked to perform their compositions at an event, open to the public, at 2:00 PM on October 10, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church, 520 E. Washington Avenue in Savannah. At this event, judges will select the top three submissions. Third place will receive a $200 gift certificate from event sponsor AMR Music. Second place will receive a $300 gift certificate from AMR Music. The first place winner will receive a $500 gift certificate from ARM Music and will be invited to perform the winning composition the next day, October 11th during the Festival’s final event, “The Concert at Grayson Stadium.” That concert features major folk performers including Janis Ian and Jay Unger and Molly Mason. The Festival is financed, in part, by the City of Savannah’s Cultural Affairs Department.

Those interested in participating or having questions may contact Hank Weisman at the Savannah Folk Music Society by calling 912-786-6953 or writing to SFMS at 1111 B Bay Street, Tybee Island, GA 31328.

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Old Time Country Dance

The second event on Saturday is the “Old Time Country Dance” from 8:00 to 11:00 PM at Notre Dame Academy gymnasium. Beginners and contra dance veterans are welcome to have a great time. Not a dancer? The music alone is worth the visit! The music will be provided by the renouned Jay Unger and Molly Mason.