MASC30Banner-4Winners have been named in the 30th annual Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (MASC) presented by the Songwriters’ Association of Washington. The overall top honors were presented during a Jan. 19 awards gala at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Virginia. Preliminary winners in each of 11 separate categories were announced weeks earlier.

According to contest director Loralyn Coles, the contest is designed to help songwriters receive recognition for their work and to further excellence in songwriting by providing funds for educational and networking opportunities in the art and business of songwriting.

Becky Warren of Nashville, TN, was named the grand prize winner for her song “I’ve Been Thinking about Mexico,” the gold winner in the Adult Contemporary category. She and Brad Hammer also penned the silver award-winning song in that category, “Stay Calm, Stay Low.”

Australian Rick Webster captured second place overall for his instrumental piece “Looking Glass,” which also was the Gold winner in the Instrumental category. Lena Pennino-Smith of West Babylon, NY took third place overall for “I Love U,” which also was the gold winner in the Children’s category.

The grand prize winner and second place overall winner will receive, among other prizes, cash awards and free registration to the 2014 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) and Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) conferences. The grand prize winner will also receive a free registration to next year’s Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) Conference. NERFA President Cheryl Prashker helped to emcee the Jan. 19 gala event.

Andrea Pais of Annapolis, MD received the BMI Songwriter’s Award for “Chasing Forever,” the Gold winner in the Pop category. She also took silver in that category for “Free.” The Director’s Choice award was presented to Kipyn Martin of Columbia, MD for “Nightbird,” the gold winner in the Open category. The Silver award in that category went to Anna Dagmar and Kevin Wanzor of New York for “Hang a Paper Lantern on the Moon.”

Previously named as winners in the Country/Bluegrass category were Renee McCullough (gold) for “Catastrophe” and Karyn Oliver (Silver) for “Magdalene. Paddy Mills struck gold in the Folk/Acoustic category with “Bayview Massacre,” while Dan Weber took silver for “Hank and Jesus.”

Finalists and Honorable Mention also were named in each category. AcousticMusicScene.com co-creator Glen Roethel received Honorable Mention in the Country/Bluegrass and Folk/Acoustic categories respectively for “Sweet Cider” and “The Family Tree.” He also shared Honorable Mention with Sue Riley, Penny Nichols and Chris Kunstadter in the Open category for “Dandelion Dreams.” A complete list of winners in all 11 categories may be found at www.saw.org.

Established in 1979, the Songwriters’ Association of Washington (SAW) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to further excellence in songwriting through hosting educational programs and providing networking and performance opportunities for its members. SAW hosts open mics and showcases, workshops on the art and business of songwriting, and monthly Songwriter Exchange peer critique sessions. It also publishes a monthly e-newsletter.