For Immediate Release
December 21, 2007
Contact: Siobhàn Quinn at 301-654-8434 or masc@saw.org

SAW Announces Winners of the 24th Mid-Atlantic Song Contest

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Songwriters’ Association of Washington (SAW) announced the winners of its 24th Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (MASC) at a very lively Gala Awards Party on December 2, 2007 at Jammin’ Java, a well known music venue in Vienna, VA. The Mid-Atlantic Song Contest is a vehicle for recognition of up-and-coming songwriters.

The Overall Grand Prize went to Suzanna Choffel of Austin, TX for her song “Hey Mister.” The Second Prize Overall went to Rupert Wates, Brooklyn, NY, for “After the Rains.” Third Prize Overall went to Thomas Scott Pearce, Winterville, NC, for “Rings in the Water.” Each of these songs also won the Gold prize in their respective categories. Both Wates and Pearce performed their songs as part of the Awards show, as did other Gold and Silver award winners from the contest’s 11 categories.

The Grand Prize winner received $1,000 cash plus an International Folk Alliance Conference package and showcase in Memphis, TN as well as MasterWriter songwriting software, and memberships in SAW and Folk Alliance. The Second and Third place overall also received cash prizes, memberships and software, and each has been invited to perform in a special MASC Winners’ Performance Showcase at the Institute of Musical Traditions (IMT) in Silver Spring, MD on January 21, 2008 during the special 25th anniversary year of the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.

Songwriters were recognized by the designation of Gold, Silver, Finalist and Honorable Mention placements in each of the 11 categories. Other prizes included TAXI memberships, and the latest-edition Songwriter’s Market books. All Gold and Silver winners from each of the 11 categories will be included on a Winners’ CD, compliments of Oasis CD Manufacturing. Additional sponsors included Martin Guitar and Mary Cliff of WAMU radio.

The Young Artist Grand Prize, awarded to a songwriter age 21 and under in any genre of the contest, went to Adam Swink of Vienna, VA for his song “I’m There.” Second Prize went to Joe Krzyzewski, Pawling, NY, for “Two Wanderers.” Third Prize was awarded to Margot MacDonald, Arlington, VA, for her song “Walls.”

SAW is a non-profit organization devoted to strengthening and supporting the craft of songwriting through its sponsorship of workshops, peer critiques and seminars featuring songwriters, musicians, producers and other music professionals. SAW also hosts open mic nights and showcases throughout the metropolitan area and coordinates community service opportunities for local songwriters.

For more information about any of the winners, or SAW and the 25th MASC, which is due to get underway in the spring of 2008, call 301-654-8434 or email masc@saw.org. A complete listing of the 24th MASC winners follows.

Winners of the MASC 24

Grand Prize Overall: "Hey Mister" by Suzanna Choffel (Austin, TX)
Second Prize Overall: "After the Rains" by Rupert Wates
(Brooklyn, NY)
Third Prize Overall: "Rings in the Water" by Thomas Scott Pearce (Winterville, NC)

Young Artist
First Prize Overall: "I'm There" by Adam Swink (Vienna, VA)
Second Prize Overall: "Two Wanderers" by Joe Krzyzewski
(Pawling, NY)
Third Prize Overall: "Walls" by Margot Macdonald (Arlington, VA)

Adult Contemporary
Gold: "Hey Mister" by Suzanna Choffel (Austin, TX)
Silver: "Falling Down" by Lea (Silver Spring, MD)
Finalist:
"Broken Glass" by Stella Schindler (Washington, DC)
"Faded Memory" by Stella Schindler (Washington, DC)
"She's Coming Around" by Lori Kelley & Cletus Kennelly
(Centreville, VA)
Honorable Mention:
"Beg" by Eric Weinberg (Burke, VA)
"Better Part of Me" by Gregory Alan Burton (Berwyn, PA)
"Cross the Line" by Janna Audey (Alexandria, VA)
"Falling Star" by Margot Macdonald (Arlington, VA)
"If Only" by Doug Stanglin & Janet Devers (Arlington, VA)
"In My Soul" by Louie Cate (Alexandria, VA)
"One Hell of a City" by Jeff Hsin (Potomac, MD)
"So Much More To Tell You" by S. dhruva Stephenson (Frostburg, MD)

Children's
Gold: "Caterpillar" by Rick & Audrey Engdahl of Sense Of Wonder (Hyattsville, MD)
Silver: "Mighty Jackie, the Strikeout Queen" by Marla Lewis &
Les Julian (Wantagh, NY)
Finalist:
"Beware of the Wily Ol' Crocodile" by Tracey Eldridge (Joppa, MD)
"Chuga, Chuga Choo Choo" by Tracey Eldridge (Joppa, MD)
"Mrs. Eldredge's Arm" by Steven Cutts (Rosemont, PA)
Honorable Mention:
"I'm My Own Best Friend" by Tracey Eldridge (Joppa, MD)
"Opposable Thumbs" by Jim Johnson (Springfield, VA)
"Running in the Poison Ivy" by Steve Coffee (Falls Church, VA)
"We All Laugh in the Same Language" by Marla Lewis (Wantagh, NY)

Country/ Bluegrass
Gold: "Fiona" by Sean Patrick McGraw (Nashville, TN)
Silver: "Rock 'n' Roll with a Southern Accent" by Gary Denis
(Patuxent River, MD)
Finalist:
"Below Rock Bottom" by Eddie Sutphin & Kevin Chenault (Pulaski, VA)
"Quarterback for Hoover High" by Eddie Sutphin & Andrew Gregory (Pulaski, VA)
"She Lives and Dies the Life of a Highway Man" by Eddie Sutphin (Pulaski, VA)
Honorable Mention:
"Everyday Angels" by Linda Hiserman (Ashburn, VA)
"Hannah's Song" by Eddie Sutphin (Pulaski, VA)
"I Didn't Stand a Chance" by Ed Williams (Dallas, TX)
"Mambo" by Hillary Chapman (New York, NY)
"Ragged Mile" by Evan Sands (Annandale, VA)
"Right Here on the Farm" by Melanie Sue Mausser (Epworth, IA)
"Settling In" by Gary Denis (Patuxent River, MD)
"She Said It's Over" by Ed Williams (Dallas, TX)
"What Should Have Been" by Amy Sullivan & Shane Hines
(Upperville, VA)

Contemporary Folk / Acoustic
Gold: "After the Rains" by Rupert Wates (Brooklyn, NY)
Silver: "Sun on my back" by Gretchen Witt (Brooklyn, NY)
Finalist:
"Camelot" by Erik Balkey (Philadelphia, PA)
"iwillcomeforyou" by Randall Williams (Hickory Creek, TX)
"Mi Vecina (My Neighbor)" by Rick & Audrey Engdahl of Sense Of Wonder (Hyattsville, MD)
Honorable Mention:
"Any Better" by Bob Sima (Woodbine, VA)
"Broken Glass" by Stella Schindler (Washington, DC)
"Eddie" by Claude "Butch" Morgan (Devine, TX)
"I Got Cats" by John Seay (Baltimore, MD)
"Man in the Mirror" by Claude "Butch" Morgan (Devine, TX)
"Mrs. Eldredge's Arm" by Steven Cutts (Rosemont, PA)
"Nobody's Moon" by John Seay (Baltimore, MD)
"Not a Rocket" by Rick & Audrey Engdahl of Sense Of Wonder (Hyattsville, MD)
"Pretty" by Bob Sima (Woodbine, VA)
"Say so" by Gretchen Witt (Brooklyn, NY)
"She's Coming Around" by Lori Kelley & Cletus Kennelly
(Centreville, VA)
"Simple Machine" by Kyler England (North Hollywood, CA)
"Some Other" by John Seay (Baltimore, MD)
"St. Marys" by Karyn Oliver Lehr (Baltimore, MD)
"There's No Easy Way To Say Goodbye" by Laura Baron
(Bethesda, MD)

Gospel / Inspirational / Christian
Gold: "Rings in the Water" by Thomas Scott Pearce (Winterville, NC)
Silver: "The Third Angel" by Sean P. Myers (Arnold, MD)
Finalist:
"He Lived (He Lives)" by Eddie Sutphin (Pulaski, VA)
"Let Everything Within Me" by Josh Caldwell (Frisco, CO)
"Looking Out For You" by Patty Reese (Takoma Park, MD)
Honorable Mention:
"Dharma Wheel" by Buzz Merrick (Baltimore, MD)
"Everyday Angels" by Linda Hiserman (Ashburn, VA)
"Grateful" by Dave Nachmanoff (Davis, CA)
"Mandy From Missouri" by The Braeded Chord (Fairfax, VA)
"Praise The Lord" by Eddie & Laura Cavazos (San Antonio, TX)
"Slow Boat" by Rupert Wates (Brooklyn, NY)
"To Calvary" by Kathleen Mikkelsen (Bristow, VA)

Instrumental
Gold:"Shinebox" by Vinny Roth (Centreville, VA)
Silver: "When all is Said and Done" by Curtis Balmer (Sterling, VA)
Finalist:
"Near Life Experience" by Louie Cate (Alexandria, VA)
"Always You" by Ray Jozwiak & Gonzo Piano (Towson, MD)
"Introduction" by Eric Whitener (Herndon, VA)
Honorable Mention:
"Melvin Purvis Gets His Man The Hoppin" by John Orchestra (Philadelphia, PA)
"Heart of The Little Horse" by Nancy Tucker (Goshen, CT)

Jazz / Blues
Gold: "Winter Don't Own Me" by Laura Baron & Pat Quinn
(Bethesda, MD)
Silver: "Way Down Homeless Blues" by Steve Romig
(Melbourne, Australia)
Finalist:
"Leave It to Me" by Jason A. Heald (Roseburg, OR)
"Swing Me" by Chuck Ritenour (Linden, VA)
"There's No Easy Way to Say Goodbye" by Laura Baron
(Bethesda, MD)
Honorable Mention:
"Blues 101" by Louie Cate (Alexandria, VA)
"Butterfly" by Laura Baron & Pat Quinn (Bethesda, MD)
"I Never Was Enough" by Chuck Ritenour (Linden, VA)
"Never Mine To Lose" by Laura A. Craig (LaLa) (Darling, MS)
"Scenes from the Avenue" by Laura Baron (Bethesda, MD)
"Slow Shoe Blues" by Eric Weinberg (Burke, VA)
"The Blues Ain't Funny" by Chuck Ritenour (Linden, VA)
"The Sound of Yesterday" by Regina Smoler (Highland Park, NJ)

Open
Gold: "OOH RAH" by Bill Mulroney & Tom Blood (Ashton, MD)
Silver: "Overrated" by Laurie Jones (Ellsworth, ME)
Finalist:
"Fearless" Laura McDavid by (New York, NY)
"Scenes from the Avenue" by Laura Baron (Bethesda, MD)
"Slow Shoe Blues" by Eric Weinberg (Burke, VA)
Honorable Mention:
"Femme Fatale" by Jan Seides (Austin, TX)
"Freedom" by Sol Creech (Merrifield, VA)
"I Can Touch the Sun" by Lynne Revo-Cohen & Danielle Westphal (Reston, VA)
"Tryin'" by Keith Minnery (Cincinnati, OH)

Pop
Gold: "Last Resort" by Bob Sima (Woodbine, VA)
Silver: "Coffee at Starbucks" by Sophia Bass & Paul Buono
(Manassas, VA)
Finalist:
"Romeo Lives Again" by Michael K. & the Populists (Arnold, MD)
"She's Coming Back Around" by Lori Kelley & Cletus Kennelly (Centreville, VA)
"Someone You Love" by Liz Stahler (Boston, MA)
Honorable Mention:
"Sunday Night" by Gretchen Witt (Brooklyn, NY)

R&B / Urban / Rap
Gold: "You Shine" by B. Blunt (Washington, DC)
Silver: "Let Love" by Lea (Silver Spring, MD)
Finalist:
"Drunk By Myself" by Henry Sejas (Alexandria, VA)
"The Method" by Henry Sejas (Alexandria, VA)
"Yesterday" by Dumi Ndlovu & P. Sanyangore (Springfield, VA)
Honorable Mention:
"Liar In A Lexus" by Deanna Miller (Clarkston, GA)
"Celebrate" by Alper Yargici (Rockville, MD)

Rock
Gold: "Believe" by Sophia Bass & Paul Buono (Manassas, VA)
Silver: "Just Friends" by Patty Reese (Takoma Park, MD)
Finalist:
"A Certain Distance" by Dave Nachmanoff (Davis, CA)
"Angel Blue" by Gregory Alan Burton (Berwyn, PA)
"Sympathy" by Sophia Bass & Paul Buono (Manassas, VA)
Honorable Mention:
"Beautiful People" by Jeff Campagna (Arlington, VA)
"Cheap Bottle of Wine" by Vinny Roth (Centreville, VA)
"Did I Tell You" by Sophia Bass & Paul Buono (Manassas, VA)
"Get Back Up Again" by Eric Weinberg (Burke, VA)
"Heaven In His Eyes" by Gregory Alan Burton (Berwyn, PA)
"I Will Find You" by Larry May (Brooklyn, NY)
"John the Bone" by Greg Pugliese (Silver Spring, MD)
"Party of One" by Billy Coulter (Takoma Park, MD)
"Recognized" by Alexandra Rhoads (Burke, VA)
"Virginia" by Eric Weinberg (Burke, VA)