Are you a songwriter?  Is Music in your soul?

Columbia Festival of the Arts, WTMD and our community partners want to hear from you!  Officially launching on October 14 with entry DEADLINE EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 3RD! You can submit your creativity as part of our Songs of Strength music competition. Competition is open to ALL, you do not have to be a local Columbia Resident! 

While entries can be any kind of music with lyrics on any subject you like, Songs of Strength is about music that somehow inspires, shares our challenges, our hopes, our will to grow and desire to heal.  We have a Youth category for songwriters under 18 (as of Oct 1, 2020) and an Adult category for 18+.

OUR ESTEEMED JUDGES

A Platinum Grammy Nominated Artist, Award Winning Actors, Music Publishing Exec, Musicians, Merriweather Post Pavilion Exec, plus Community & Arts Leaders.

(L to R) Kathy Sledge, Anita Gillette, Rain Pryor, Keith D’Arcy, Ian Kennedy, Massama Dogo, Phillip Dodge, Grace Anastasiadis, Dave Simmons)  Click For More Info.

HOW DO I ENTER?

If you have a recent song (written anytime after January 1, 2020) that you can submit as an audio file with a lyric sheet, simply complete the official entry form below.  Be prepared to upload your audio, up to 3 photographs (images and/or artwork), and a PDF lyric sheet. If you have a Music Video file, you can include the URL to YouTube, Vimeo, or other hosting site.

Adult First Prize – $750. Youth First Prize – $500 and an Audience Choice Award is $250.  Additional non-cash prizes may be awarded. Our honored and experienced Judges represent various Art & Music Industry professionals! Extry Deadline EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 3RD! Winners will be announced January 2021. 

Read Rules & Regulations
Under 18? Download Parental Consent Form
Competition Entry Form

    • WARNING: It may take a while for your submission to process, please ensure that you receive the thank you message on screen before leaving the page

      If Under 18 then a Parent/Guardian permission form must be included. Click Link On Top of This Page to download form.
    • If OTHER, please explain.
    • When naming your file you MUST use the format SONG_YourName_SongTitle_YourPhoneNumber.MP3 (or .MP4 etc)
    • When naming your file you MUST use the format LYRICS_YourName_SongTitle_YourPhoneNumber.PDF and SAVE the file in a PDF format.
    • Drop files here or
      When naming your file you MUST use the format PHOTO_YourName_YourPhoneNumber1.JPG (.PNG or .TIF) Preferred JPG format. If multiple image files they must be numbered, 1,2, 3, etc.)

    • Please wait for upload file to reach 100% before you submit.

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