Ten finalists have been named in the 2012 Wildflower! Performing Songwriter Contest. Each will perform two songs on the Singer Songwriter Stage during the 20th annual Wildflower! arts and music festival in Richardson, Texas, just a few minutes north of Dallas. Billed as North Texas’ largest music festival, it takes place, May 18-20.

The ten finalists, selected by a panel of judges, based on both their songwriting craft and the presentation of their songs, are Jen Cass (Bay City, MI), Angela Easterling (Greenville, SC), Tom Faulkner (Highland Village, TX), Connor Garvey (South Berwick, ME), Nicolette Good (San Antonio, TX), Robyn Landis (Tucson, AZ), Cassie Peterson (Nashville, TN), Ernest Troost (Los Angeles, CA), Crystal Yates McKinney, Texas, and MaryBeth Zamer of Twangtown Paramours (Nashville, TN). Four of them will receive $500 each in cash prizes.

Last year’s Wildflower! Performing Songwriter Contest winners were Steve Chizmadia (Peekskill, NY), Suzanna Choffel (Austin, TX), RJ Cowdery (Columbus, OH) and Michael Terry People’s Choice Award-winner Ellen Cherry (Baltimore, MD).

Cowdery will showcase her talents on the Singer Songwriter Stage on Saturday, May 19, as will The Flyin’ A’s, Ken Gaines and Wayne Wilkerson, Mary Gauthier, headliner John Gorka, Matt Harlan and Louise Mosrie. Noted Texas-based artists Guy Clark and Zane Williams are slated to grace the stage the following day.

In addition to its Singer Songwriter Stage, Wildflower! features three main outdoor stages with an eclectic array of musical artists, the Wild! Marketplace, a Taste of Texas Food Garden, a Kidz Korner, and more. Three-day festival passes go on sale for $30 on April 16, while single-day adult tickets will be available for $20 at the gate and online (www.wildflowerfestival.com).