Local Songwriters Compete For $10K Grand Prize In Bethesda Contest

BETHESDA, MD — The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is sponsoring the eighth annual Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, a competition that honors songwriters and musicians in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.

A grand prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the winning songwriter. The grand prize winner will also be awarded 25 hours of recording studio time with Innovation Station Music.

The contest also includes a young songwriter — under 18 — category for which an aspiring songwriter will have the chance to win $2,500.

“The advice that I would offer to songwriters is to go for it,” 2022 Grand Prize Winner Juliet Lloyd said in a statement. “Pick songs that mean something to you and don’t worry about having to sound a certain way.”

All musical genres are accepted. Songs must include lyrics and cannot be more than four minutes long. Musicians can apply online or download a mail-in application at Bethesda.org. The application deadline to enter the contest is Friday, Dec. 9.

The contest, founded by Bethesda resident and arts philanthropist, Cathy Bernard, is named in honor of Fred Ebb, Bernard’s uncle and American songwriter and creator of Broadway hits such as “Cabaret” and “Chicago” and iconic songs including “New York, New York.”

The contest will be a multi-staged, juried competition. The first-round judging panel will include professional artists, venue operators, booking agents, and music academia. They will choose the semifinalists from the total pool of applicants.

A grand prize jury will then select the finalists who will perform their original songs during the concert on Friday, April 21, 2023 at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club. Each finalist will receive $500 for performing at the concert. The award winners will be announced at the close of the show.

Previous winners include Juliet Lloyd of Takoma Park and Marian Hunter of Alexandria in 2022; Heather Aubrey Lloyd of Owings Mills and Emily Mitchell of Gaithersburg in 2019; Rochelle Rice of Washington, D.C., and Skyler Foley of Burke in 2018; Lea Morris of Alexandria and Calista Garcia of Arlington in 2017; Justin Jones of Arlington and Maddy Clark of McLean in 2016; and Owen Danoff of Washington, D.C. and Lexi Peto of Warrenton in 2015.

Tickets to attend the eighth annual concert will be available in January 2023 at www.bethesda.org.