How Our
Competition Works
Go here for a complete explanation of our rules and guidelines.
Registrants bring one song with them to enter into the competition. The song does not have to be sent in before the workshop, but it will be turned in upon your arrival and check in at the workshop. The song should be recorded on a cd, and you should bring two copies of the lyric. You should also list co-writers names, even if they do not attend the workshop.
We do not categorize songs by genre. As of the 2006 workshop, we have started dividing songs according the the production of the demo. Professionaly produced studio demos will be group, and demos that have a basic home production will compete against each other. No system is perfect, but we believe this will "level the playing field."
You will be assigned to a small group of 12-13 people with two professional evaluators, either two writers or one writer and one publisher. They will listen to your song in the small group and then give you valuable feedback. You will also receive their written critiques of your song.
The winning song from each small group will be heard by all the members of the faculty, and they will choose the grand prize winning song. Winners will be announced at dinner on Saturday evening of the workshop.
First, second and third place winners of each small group will receive current CD's as prizes. The grand prize winner will receive: 1) a professionally-made demo of the song, 2) a free registration to next summer's IMMERSE, sponsored by the Gospel Music Association in Nashville, TN, 3) a free registration to next year's Write About Jesus Workshop. In addition, when the winner is ready to make a trip to Nashville, we will arrange several meetings for him or her with publishers.
This prize package is worth over $1,000.
2009 GROUP WINNERS
GROUP ONE
First - Jenna Davis - “Finding My Way
Second - Jeff Dessommes - “Open Your Eyes”
Third - Kiersten Venezia - “Back To Eden”
GROUP TWO
First – Rebecca McKinley - “You Reign”
Second – Rachel McCutcheon - “Pray”
Third – Chuck Delchamps - “Because You Love Me”
GROUP THREE
First – Lori Harris - “Ready”
Second – George Karidis - “Boast”
Third – Stephanie Taylor - “Near The Heart Of God”
GROUP FOUR
First – Gideon Dunn - “Shiny”
Second – Elisa Whiteman - “I Won’t Hide”
Third – Joshua Carey - “Shout”
GROUP SIX
First – Hollie Brian - “I Am Not Alone”
Second – Bret Faulkenberry - “Games We Made”
Third – Gretchen Dare - “He Is Here”
GROUP SEVEN
First – Jeremy Rodriguez - “Walking Your Way”
Second – Jason Riel - “Pieces”
Third – Rocky Mantia - “Don’t Want To Give Up”
GROUP EIGHT
First – Tim Wheeler - “That’s Why They Call It Amazing”
Second – Christina Pasque/Daniel Pasque - “First Love”
Third – Deandra Worley - “Makin’ Change”
GROUP NINE
First - Kaleb Krueger - “The Future Has Arrived”
Second - John Gillespie - “God Above All Gods”
Third - James Eric Myers - “You Are My Everything”
GROUP TEN
First - Marcy Each - “Walk With Me To Heaven”
Second - Kris Miller - “When I’m With You”
Third - Becky Thorn - “Deep & Wide”
2009 GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Marcy Each
“Walk With Me To Heaven”
Grand Prize Winners Darryl Johnson (08), Julie Hufstetler (04), Helga Kaefer (06), Ericka Harvey (05), John Smith (Workshop Pastor), Marcy Each (09), Sue Smith (Workshop Director), Phil Mehrens (02), Glenn Green (05), Diana Blum (00).
Tim Wheeler was the 2009 runner-up for his song “That’s Why They Call It Amazing.”