Important Songwriting Press Release For South Dakota Friends of Traditional Music

MUSIC LUMINARIES SIGN ON AS JUDGES FOR THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC)

Tom Waits, Tori Amos, Ozzy Osbourne, My Morning Jacket, Jeff Beck, McCoy Tyner, Duran Duran, And Kelly Clarkson Join Music Industry Executives To Select 2011 ISC Winners

August 9, 2011 - The prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has assembled a distinguished panel of judges for its 2011 competition. With the most high-profile judging panel of any music competition in the world, ISC offers songwriters and artists the unprecedented opportunity to have their music heard by iconic recording artists, as well as many major and indie record label Presidents, A&R executives, producers, music supervisors, and more.

Now accepting entries for the 2011 competition, ISC gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (shared among the 68 winners) including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and $20,000 in prizes. Open to all levels of songwriters, ISC offers 22 categories that include all genres of popular music. Past winners have included artists from Grammy winners to hobbyist songwriters and everyone in between.

For information and enter, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com

Winning ISC can be a tremendous career booster. Over the years, many winners have achieved great career success, including getting signed to labels such as Epic, Universal, Motown, and more. Many more winners have secured publishing deals, smaller label deals, licensing deals, and distribution deals in addition to getting more gigs, fans, and recognition.

The complete list of ISC judges includes:
Recording Artists: Tom Waits; Tori Amos; Jeff Beck; Billy Currington; My Morning Jacket; Simon Le Bon & Roger Taylor (Duran Duran); Kelly Clarkson; Keane; McCoy Tyner; Wynonna; Francesca Battistelli; Tegan and Sara; Massive Attack; Michael W. Smith; Alejandro Sanz; Johnny Clegg; Jeremy Camp; Ray Wylie Hubbard; John Mayall; Craig Morgan; Basement Jaxx; James Cotton; Sandra Bernhard; Trombone Shorty; Robert Earl Keen; Black Francis (The Pixies); Mose Allison; Robert Smith (The Cure); Amadou & Mariam; Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals); Matt Thiessen (Relient K); Chayanne; and more...
Industry Executives: Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic Records); David Massey (President, Mercury Records); Brian Malouf (VP A&R, Walt Disney Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America, Sony/BMG); Ric Arboit (President, Nettwerk Music Group); Anastasia Brown (Music Supervisor, FORMAT); Allison Jones (VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Dan Storper (President, Putamayo World Music Records and Putumayo Kids); Kim Buie (VP A&R, Lost Highway); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP, Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon); Trevor Jerideau (VP of A&R, J Records); Antony Bland (A&R, American Recordings); Steve Smith (VP of A&R, Aware Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Dr. Demento (Radio Host, The Dr. Demento Show); and more...

ISC Sponsors: Presonus, Lowden Guitars, Sennhaiser, ASCAP, Berklee College of Music, Posse, D'Addario, Thayers, SongU.com, Online Gigs, The Music Business Registry, Independent Mastering, Indie Venue Bible, George Stein, Esq. Sonicbids, Taxi, and music Submit

What's New With Vermillion Area Arts?

Norma C. Wilson, President, Vermillion Area Arts Council

Vermillion Area Arts Council is proud to join other community organizations participating in United Way’s Campaign Kick Off, scheduled for Thursday, August 25^th, from 6-8 p.m. at Ratingen Platz on the corner of Market and Main Streets in Vermillion. We invite you to visit our table and learn more about the VAAC.  If you’re not a member already, we hope you’ll join.  Our organization provides support for artists of all ages and creates opportunities for members of the Vermillion community to enjoy and appreciate the arts.  We’re grateful to United Way, the Clay County Commission, and the many other governmental and community organizations that help make our work possible.

During August, VAAC volunteers will continue fixing up and painting Washington Street Arts Center, 202 Washington Street, to prepare for the coming school year.  If you can help, please join our crew on Saturday, August 27.  The hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a break at noon for lunch provided by the VAAC.

We’ve scheduled three events for Saturdays in September:  our Annual Meeting, potluck and board election September 17, from 6-9 p.m. with an exhibit of Landscapes by Agnes “Bobbie” Alsgaard-Lein and music by Rebecca Gehm, Phil Devaney, Morgan Carnes and Phil Tiendal; a meeting of the Clay County Preservation Commission, Saturday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon; and also on the 24^th from 7-9 p.m. a fiction reading and book signing by Chuck Nauman and Jerry Wilson with a reception for the authors and painter Alsgaard-Lien.

Check our September 6^th Equalizer column for more details about these events and for announcements of art classes to be offered this fall at Washington Street Arts Center.  

If you have questions or ideas for the VAAC or are interested in serving on our Board of Directors, please contact me:  Norma.Wilson@usd.edu or 605-624-9279.