2016 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest winners

MerlefestThe winners in the 2016 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest have been announced.

Finalists competed this afternoon by performing their songs before the judges, and the winners will get the opportunity to sing them again later today on one of the main stages.

The results for 2016 are:

Gospel/Inspirational

  1. Marcy Each – On The Cross Built For Me
  2. Austin Stanley – The Face Of God
  3. Corey Smith and Alan Smith – The Road

 

Country

  1. Buddy Guido, Paul Kelly, and Willie Scheollkopf – This Livin’ May Be Killing Me
  2. Sarah Morris – I Go Back
  3. Maris Gantt – House Of Cards

 

Bluegrass

  1. Aaron Bibelhauser – Blue Collar Dreams
  2. Courtney Rorrer and Asa Gravely – Midnight Tears
  3. Cindy Giejda – Jail Break

 

General

1. Adam Bonomo – Redshifted
1. Sarah Sample – A Heart Falls Apart<
3. David Morris and Chris Dockins – Weeds

 

Judges for the finals today were Milan Miller, John Cloyd Miller, and Sarah Potenza. First place winners in each division will receive a $600 cash prize.

Congratulations all!

UPDATE 10:00 p.m. – Owing to a clerical error, the earlier report in the General category was mistaken. Both Adam Bonomo and Sarah Sample tied for 1st place, and will each receive the $600 prize for sharing a first place tie.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.