Some homegrown talent did good in the recent 2009 International Songwriting Competition, where out of 15,000 entries, Canadian songwriters took home five first-place prizes, two seconds and a smattering of honourable mentions.
The list of first-place winners is as diverse as it is long. Suzie Vinnick and Dan Kershaw of Toronto took home first place in the blues category for their song "Sometimes I Think I Can Fly." Salmon Arm, BC songwriter Dan Bremnes got first place in the gospel/Christian category for his tune "You Are." Chris Mckhool and Kevin Laliberte from Toronto's Sultans of String won first place in the instrumental category for their song "Yalla Yalla," while first place in the music video category went to Montreal's Sam Roberts and director Dave Pawsey for the song "Them Kids," from Roberts's album Love at the End of the World. And 16-year-old Scarborough, ON songwriter Victoria Leone took home first place in the teen category.
The second-place winners are no slouches, either: Tea Petrovic, Dane Deviller, and Krischan Grohne of Vancouver grabbed second place in the R&B/hip-hop category for their song "In a Minute," and Andrew Queen of Campbellford, ON took home second place in the children's music category for his song "Big Troubles for Little Red."
The honourable mentions list is swamped with Canadians, more than we could comfortably print here, so head here for the complete list of winners.
It's no small victory, either, as the judge's panel contains more than a few wizened old-timers (and smart young bucks) who know what's what: some of the judges this year included Tom Waits, Steve Winwood, Jeff Beck, Robbie Williams, McCoy Tyner, Kings of Leon, Jerry Lee Lewis, Black Francis, Timbaland, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, "Weird" Al Yankovic, Robert Smith, and seven record label presidents, among many others. Check out the full list of judges here.
The prize pot for the International Songwriting Competition includes more than $150,000 in cash and merchandise and is spread among 65 winners in 21 categories. This is the ninth year of the event. They're now accepting entries for the 2010 competition; head here for entry forms.
The list of first-place winners is as diverse as it is long. Suzie Vinnick and Dan Kershaw of Toronto took home first place in the blues category for their song "Sometimes I Think I Can Fly." Salmon Arm, BC songwriter Dan Bremnes got first place in the gospel/Christian category for his tune "You Are." Chris Mckhool and Kevin Laliberte from Toronto's Sultans of String won first place in the instrumental category for their song "Yalla Yalla," while first place in the music video category went to Montreal's Sam Roberts and director Dave Pawsey for the song "Them Kids," from Roberts's album Love at the End of the World. And 16-year-old Scarborough, ON songwriter Victoria Leone took home first place in the teen category.
The second-place winners are no slouches, either: Tea Petrovic, Dane Deviller, and Krischan Grohne of Vancouver grabbed second place in the R&B/hip-hop category for their song "In a Minute," and Andrew Queen of Campbellford, ON took home second place in the children's music category for his song "Big Troubles for Little Red."
The honourable mentions list is swamped with Canadians, more than we could comfortably print here, so head here for the complete list of winners.
It's no small victory, either, as the judge's panel contains more than a few wizened old-timers (and smart young bucks) who know what's what: some of the judges this year included Tom Waits, Steve Winwood, Jeff Beck, Robbie Williams, McCoy Tyner, Kings of Leon, Jerry Lee Lewis, Black Francis, Timbaland, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, "Weird" Al Yankovic, Robert Smith, and seven record label presidents, among many others. Check out the full list of judges here.
The prize pot for the International Songwriting Competition includes more than $150,000 in cash and merchandise and is spread among 65 winners in 21 categories. This is the ninth year of the event. They're now accepting entries for the 2010 competition; head here for entry forms.
