Who will be the grand prize Island songwriter this year?
The Cowichan Folk Guild has announced the launch of the 2012 Islands Songwriting Contest. This will be the third anniversary for this increasingly popular contest, which has seen close to two hundred entries in past years.
You must be a resident of Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands to enter. The contest is open from March 1 to May 25.
"This contest generates lots of interest from all over the Island and the Gulf Islands" says Cowichan Folk Guild artistic director Robert McCourty. "We've had entries from every city, town and island from Sooke to Lasqueti and Tofino to Denman. The word is out that the contest is fun for all and very professionally organized. It's an excellent opportunity for all Island songwriters regardless of age or skill level, to gain recognition for their talent."
The contest also provides some great prizes. Last year a brand new guitar, recording studio time and VIP passes to the Islands Folk Festival were awarded.
The theme of the contest this year is Ecology and the Environment, explains McCourty.
"We're looking for a great song about how to protect or improve the environment. Which environmental issues are important to you: salmon, global warming, food? There are hundreds of issues out there.
"Songs are a great way to educate and inspire and to get people involved in finding solutions. Think about songs which have inspired you in the past, then use your own perceptions to write one of your own to inspire others."
The contest is open to all ages and is not based on the "idol" model says McCourty.
"We have an incredible amount of talent in this part of B.C., all packed into the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. There are literally thousands of musicians and songwriters. This contest is for them. We're not looking for the prettiest songwriter; we're looking for the best song."
The contest will be divided into three regional semi-finals to be held in June; Courtenay for North Island, Duncan for Central Island and Victoria for South Island respectively. The field will be narrowed to nine songwriters for each regional performance, where they will perform their songs for a panel of judges.
The audience will be allowed to vote but their combined voting totals will count as only one vote toward the final decision. This is to avoid the possibility of "stacking" an audience with family and friends. The judging panel will take the audience vote into consideration but have the final binding decision.
The nine semi-finalists will then be invited to perform on the opening Friday night (July 20) of the 28th annual Islands Folk Festival.
The grand prize winner will receive a professionally produced and recorded version of the song, an additional, performance at the Festival, media interviews, radio airplay and career building, bragging rights of being the winner of the 2012 Islands Songwriting contest.
Second- and third-place prizes will also be awarded. The contest entry fee is $25 per song and is part of the Cowichan Folk Guild's fundraising initiatives.
A FaceBook Group for the Contest is now active. Search for the 2012 Islands Songwriting Contest to join the group. All contest updates will be posted there.
Full contest rules and regulations with a printable entry form is available via the Cowichan Folk Guild's website at www.folkfest.bc.ca.
鈥� Cowichan Folk Guild
