18 Oct Congratulations to our 2026 Contest Winners!
We are pleased to announce our 2026 class of winning songwriters, after receiving 70 entries showcasing an amazing variety of songwriters from all genres across the state. The eight winners were chosen through an anonymous screening process by a panel of celebrity judges from Maine’s music scene: music business and marketing consultant Chris Brown, award-winning songwriter Ruth Hill, and studio owner and nonprofit arts leader Sam Monaco.
The 2026 winners are: Ashley Lepre for Bat Bite; Shelby Cobb for For the Dogs; Trisha Mason for Maine Girl; Joe Sweeney for Marsha P; Ghostplayer (aka Ruben Feldman) for OCHNO; Krysteana Scribner for The Make Believe; Friend Andrea (aka Andrea Szirbik Groft) for The Queen; and co-writing team Warren & Rich Valdmanis for Wasting Time.
All the winning artists will perform their songs at the live showcase at Cadenza listening room (5 Depot Street Freeport, Maine) on Sunday November 1, 2026, at 4pm. Tickets to the event can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maine-songwriters-association-showcase-tickets-2003377962415 for $25 advance; $30 at door. Order early, as we anticipate this event will sell out.
The showcase is generously sponsored by Expanding Sky Studio, a professional recording studio and audio engineering service in Brunswick, Maine. Their mission is to bring meaningful, inspiring music to the world, regardless of genre and commercial intent.
Thanks again to all who entered! Please remember that songwriting cannot truly be judged and that this decision reflects this year’s particular judging panel’s expertise and tastes. Judges expressed that they had to make hard decisions due to the quality of entries and that they had BIG FUN hearing all these beautiful songs come to life. All to say– please do not be discouraged about entering in a future year (as the judges change annually) and DEFINITELY don’t be discouraged about your songwriting in general. Keep on writing and making music!
