Performing Songwriter Competition

The goal of the competition is to encourage emerging singer/songwriters to seek recognition for their work and to offer them the chance to further their careers.

Contest winners receive:

- A $100 prize
- A featured gig at the Rose Garden

2010 Performing Songwriters Competition - Contestants

Jim Colbert, Bellefonte, PA web site	Chris Elliott, Leverett, MA web site	Larry Murante, Seattle, WA web site
Colbert, from the midstate town of Bellefonte in Pennsylvania, teaches Pennsylvania songs, songwriting, and "The Life and Songs of the Carter Family" at various gatherings and events throughout the state. Recent songwriting competition winnings include the Susquehanna Folk Music Society Songwriting Competition and the Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Competition.	Elliott was actually a finalist last year as well, but was runnerup to the eventual winner Garrison Doles from Orlando, FL. He lives in Leverett, MA, where he plays solo or with his musical partner Lisa Austin. As a music collector, he owns thousands of CDs vinyl records, and cassettes from all genres. He was winner of the Portland, Maine, Songwriters Association Songwriting Contest in the Folk Acoustic Category.	Murante, born in Pennsylvania but living in the Seattle area for many years, was the Grand Prize Winner in the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Contest and was a finalist in the 2009 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Competition. He credits his early musical influences to be Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, CSNY, The Eagles, and Jackson Browne.