NASHVILLE, TN. (INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETIITION) - The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is pleased to announced its 2005 winners.
Almost 15,000 amateur and professional songwriters from 82 countries participated in the 2005 competition, consolidating ISC's status as the leading songwriting event globally. Over $150,000 in cash and prizes will be shared among 50 winners, including a cash prize of $10,000 (US) to the 2005 Overall Grand Prize winner.
The 2005 ISC Overall Grand Prize is awarded to Catie Curtis and Mark Erelli for their collaboration of the song "People Look Around." Also known as the Rain song or Truth song, it deals with real life issues, addressing the impact of Hurricane Katrina and the need to look at the larger truths revealed.
Candace Avery, the founder and director of ISC, says, "Catie Curtis and Mark Erelli exemplify the very highest caliber of contemporary songwriters, and we are honored that they chose to enter ISC. Their winning song is a moving and powerful response to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and is both timely and timeless in its melodic and lyrical content. The song is a welcome throwback to the days when singer/songwriters wrote and sang about issues and social change."
Dubbed a "folk-rock goddess" by The New Yorker, Catie Curtis has been writing songs ever since she was 15. Over the span of seven albums, coffeehouse shows, festivals, house concerts, and touring, Catie has earned a devoted, grassroots fan base and critical acclaim for her music. Her unusual and flourishing indie career has been documented in the recently released film, Tangled Stories.
A prolific and ambitious songwriter, Mark Erelli holds a master's degree in evolutionary biology but decided to put it aside in the pursuit of music as a career. No Depression calls his songwriting "tasteful, intelligent and sensitive...unpredictable as a bead of mercury." He just recently released his fifth CD, "Hope & Other Casualties," and he is already being touted as one of America's most promising singer/songwriters.
In addition to the Overall Grand Prize winner, many other deserving songwriters also share in the prestige of winning their respective categories in ISC 2005. These winners hail from all over the world, representing diverse cultures and ranging from talented amateurs to seasoned songwriting veterans.
Please visit www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm to hear all of ISC's winners.
Judges for the 2005 competition included: Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Sonny Rollins; John Scofield; Steve Vai; Macy Gray; Joss Stone; MercyMe; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); LeAnn Rimes; Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse); Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan); BeBe Winans; Peter Hook (New Order); Benji Madden (Good Charlotte); Charlie Musselwhite; The Donnas; Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Keith Wozencroft (President, Capitol Music UK); Glen Barros (CEO/President, Concord Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Michael McDonald (President, ATO Records); Alexandra Patsavas (Owner, The Chop Shop Music Supervision - credits include The OC, Grey's Anatomy, Without A Trace, Carnivale, Rescue Me ); Darrale Jones (VP A&R Urban, Atlantic Records); Chris Parr (VP Music Programming & Talent Relations, CMT); Barbara Sedun (VP Creative, EMI Music Publis! hing Canada); Tara Griggs-Magee (Executive VP of Gospel/Urban Music, Sony Records); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People), Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Emily Wittmann (Vice-President, Nick Records); Patrick Moxey (President, Ultra Records/You Records/Sequence Records/Escondida Music/Empire Mgmt.) and Danny Epstein (Music Supervisor, Sesame Street/Sesame Workshop).
ISC is now accepting entries for 2006. ISC is pleased to announce that the Overall Grand Prize for 2006 has been increased and now includes a $25,000 cash prize, the largest cash Grand Prize of any songwriting competition. Visit www.songwritingcompetition.com for more information and entry forms.
