Chris Austin Songwriting Contest Announces Winners

The winners of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, which was held during MerleFest 2009, have been announced.

Carol Hauser and Colin McCaffrey of Montpelier, Vt., won in the bluegrass category for their song "Love Gone By." In the Country category, Dennis K. Duff of Kuttawa, Ky., won with his song "Man of Few Words." "Beyond the Rain" was the gospel category winning song, written by Brink Brinkman of Pickerington, Ohio. Miles and Letha Costin of Raleigh, N.C., received the first place prize in the general category for their song "Unmarked Pavement."

On April 24, all the first place winners performed their songs at MerleFest on the Cabin Stage. Their prizes included an acoustic guitar, a $300 check, two boxes of D'Addario strings and a one-year subscription to Acoustic Guitar magazine.

Over 840 songs were submitted for the contest, and then threeWin finalists were chosen in each category. On April 24, all of the finalists performed their songs on the Austin Stage before the winners were announced. The second and thrid place winners for each category received performance slots on Friday night at the Songwriters Coffeehouse, cash prizes, D'Addario strings and subscriptions to Acoustic Guitar.

Judges included singer/songwriters and former CASC winner Tift Merritt, Leonard Podolak of The Duhks and program director of the Virginia Folk Life Program at the Virginia Foundation of the Humanities, John Lohman. Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale served as this year's volunteer contest chairperson. The songs were judged based on originality, lyrics, melody, and overall commercial potential.

All proceeds from the contest went to the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship.  The scholarship has awarded over $25,000 to 68 deserving students, since its inception. Ryan Jeffery Call and Kimberly Ilene Osborne are the 2008-2009 recipients of the scholarship. Call is currently enrolled in WCC's college transfer program and plans to transfer to North Carolina State University to finish his bachelor's degree. Osborne is taking classes at WCC for the office systems technology program.