Congratulations to our Round 1 winners! Their songs will be shared with radio stations as part of an annual CD compilation, and they will also receive a $100 gift card to Elderly Instruments. Thank you to our judges, Ellis Paul and Marilyn Rea Beyer, who thoughtfully listened to songs from nearly A THIRD of our current conference registrants.
All registrants for NERFA 2024 (both in-person and virtual) can submit once every quarter! The next chance starts July 1.
Emotional truth is expressed with deft economy in an extended metaphor borne by a tender, airy melody in "Chasing the Light" by Ash & Eric.
Marilyn Rea Beyer
Host of the Midnight Special
WFMT 98.7FM
...solid lyric and song, beautiful arrangement.... Believability is the thing that consistently pulls me in. I want to know the singer is embedded in the song, and you have that in spades.
Ellis Paul
Songwriter
"Reckoning" by Sean Kiely balances poetry and lifeblood like a warm hand in yours on a cool night or iced lavender lemonade on a devil-hot day.
Marilyn Rea Beyer
Host of the Midnight Special
WFMT 98.7FM
You truly stuck out from the crowd for me— beautiful melody, chord colorings that were fresh sounding, a well written lyric. And it felt like I was listening to someone rooted in folk music who was doing something with forward thinking.
Ellis Paul
Songwriter
Kate McDonnell wallops you with a vivid image that puts an essential life lesson on the Jumbotron in "Trapeze."
Marilyn Rea Beyer
Host of the Midnight Special
WFMT 98.7FM
Congrats Kate on a great song with beautiful delivery. You have a way with melody and lyric. Hope to see you sing again in person soon!
Ellis Paul
Songwriter
