MerleFest Offers Songwriters Chance in the Spotlight

st1\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#ieooui) } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin: .5in; mso-footer-margin: .5in; mso-paper-source: 0; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 }Songwriters looking for a way to get their music heard can now begin entering their original songs into the 17th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. MerleFest 2009, sponsored by Lowe’s, gives an opportunity for writers to get their music out there and be heard by several professionals in Nashville. Jim Lauderdale, a Grammy-winning songwriter and singer, will lead the panel of judges.  Entries into the contest should fall into four categories: Country, bluegrass, gospel and general. First place includes the chance to perform onstage at MerleFest in April, an acoustic guitar, $300, D’Addario guitar strings and a subscription to Acoustic Guitar magazine. Other winners will get the chance to perform at the Friday night Songwriters Coffeehouse, along with the guitar strings and magazine subscription. Songs must be submitted by Feb. 18 either through the mail or online at www.sonicbids.com. Other details can be seen at www.merlefest.org. Proceeds from the contest benefit the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship. Austin was member of Ricky Skaggs band and died tragically at the beginning of his solo career in a plane crash in 1991. The scholarship and contest were established to honor the memory of the musician.