The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

Contest Rules and Entry | Prizes | Sponsors | History | Need Additional Information | 2009 CASC Finalists | Winners | 2009-2010 Scholarship Winners | Entry Form 

MerleFest offers songwriters the opportunity to have their original songs heard by a panel of professional songwriters and others from the Nashville music industry by participating in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest!

Net proceeds from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest go to support the WCC Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship. Since its inception the Chris Austin Scholarship has helped 70 students and awarded over $27,300.

Our Chairperson

The volunteer chairperson of the 2010 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is Jim Lauderdale, music legend and friend of MerleFest!

Judges 

We are excited to announce two of our on-site judges, Wyatt Durrette and Laurelyn Dossett. The third judge will be announced soon.

Past Winners

Gillian Welch was one of the winners of the initial Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest in 1993. Recent winners have included Tift Merritt, Michael Reno Harrell, Adrienne Young, Martha Scanlan, David Via, Sam Quinn, and Johnny Williams.

MerleFest's Chris Austin
Songwriting Contest -
Official Page

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