The Cotton District Arts Festival to Host 2nd Annual Songwriters Competition
Starkville is coming up on its 17th annual Cotton District Arts Festival. Each year the festival has grown adding new and exciting activities to the traditional arts, music, dance, literature and culinary events. Last year the Starkville Area Arts Council was proud to host their first songwriting competition. The Songwriters Competition was designed to give amateur and professional songwriters a stage to present their songs to the public. Music has always been a vital part of the Cotton District Arts Festival and music fans' attendance increases with each year. The goal of the competition is to offer an opportunity for the many talented musicians throughout the south to be recognized for their talents. The Songwriter's competition, in its first year proved to do just that. Jordyn Mallory was the first place winner last year and has taken many steps towards making her very own name in the music industry. Mallory has opened for many Grammy award winning artists, but since performing her winning song on the 2011 CVB Main Stage has established her very on concert tour. She is now traveling all over the country performing her very own music. The SAAC wishes to inspire those with unique artistic abilities in the area of songwriting to enter your best work in to the 2nd annual Songwriter's Competition. The songs submitted in the competition will be judged by originality, melody, composition, structure, and lyrics. All genres of music will be accepted, and all ages are welcomed. The deadline for entries is December 31, 2011, no exceptions. The competition begins effective October 1, 2011. The three winners of the competition will be announced within the first week of March. Sponsored by McReynolds' Orthodontics, the first, second, and third prize winners will receive prizes of $250 cash, $100 cash, and $75 cash, respectively. All winners will have the opportunity to perform their winning song on the day of the 2012 Cotton District Arts Festival. The festival will be held Saturday, April 21st. For more information on the Songwriter's Competition, contact Dr. James Sobaskie at 662-325-3070 or email jsobaskie@colled.msstate.edu, competition chair at . Applications are available online at www.starkvillearts.org. If you have any questions please contact the SAAC office directly at 662.324.3080 or visit the above website.