2009 International Peace Song Contest

<span class="postbody"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hello friends, <br /><br />Just a heads up about a contest that you may want to consider.... <br /><br />Peace, <br /><br />Paul / Zest <br /><br />International Peace Song Contest <br /><br />The Peace Music Foundation (PMF), in association with the New York City Symphony and Artists Association for World Peace (AAWP), is presenting in 2009 its First International Peace Song Writing Contest. <br /><br />OBJECTIVES <br /><br />&bull; To organize an annual Peace Song Contest that will invite musicians worldwide to write original songs related to the theme of Peace. <br /><br /><br />&bull; To organize a yearly Peace Song Festival, where the 10 best songs emerging from the Peace Song Contest will be performed live by their respective artists. <br /><br /><br />&bull; To issue the annual Peace Song Award. An international jury will select the artist with the best song and performance as winner at the Peace Song Festival. <br /><br />DEFINITION OF PEACE SONG <br /><br />It is a song with original melody and lyrics, conveying the spirit and theme of peace. The message of peace may draw its inspiration from related themes such as: <br /><br />&bull; the oneness of the human family <br /><br /><br />&bull; harmony among people, nations and races <br /><br /><br />&bull; compassion and love for human beings <br /><br /><br />&bull; the spirituality/divine origin of humanity <br /><br /><br />&bull; the dual concepts of peace and freedom, peace and love <br /><br /><br />&bull; Mother Earth and our love for the environment <br /><br /><br />&bull; reflections on war, violence and destruction caused by humans <br /><br />STRUCTURE OF THE PEACE SONG CONTEST <br /><br />A. Preliminary Contest <br /><br />A preliminary contest will be held in which musicians / songwriters will have a chance to compete for cash awards, as well as participate in the First International Peace Song Festival, a concert at which the winning artists will be showcased and the Annual Peace Song Award will be presented. <br /><br />The ten songwriters whose songs are judged to be the winning entries will receive cash awards in the amounts of $2,000 (1st place); $1,500 (2nd place); $1,000 (3rd place); $500 (4th and 5th place) and $200 (for 6th through 10th place). The winning songs will also be included on a Commemorative CD to be produced at a future date. <br /><br />B. Rules and Guidelines for the Contest <br /><br />Applicants must not be signed to a publishing entity. Any style of song is eligible: Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, Rap, Gospel, Blues, R and B, Jazz, Classical, Reggae, New Age, etc. <br /><br /><br />Songs may be submitted on CD or electronically (mp3.) The level of production sophistication of the entries will not be a factor in assessing the songs, although it is very important to have the vocals clearly audible. <br /><br /><br />An application form can be downloaded from here. <br /></span><a href="http://web.me.com/diegocostanyc/peacemusicfoundation.org/Peace_Music_Foundation_-_Projects_files/PMFApplicationDeadlineMarch15.doc" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small; color: #006699;">http://web.me.com/diegocostanyc/peacemusicfoundation.org/Peace_Music_Foundation_-_Projects_files/PMFApplicationDeadlineMarch15.doc</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br /><br />The completed application form, plus MP3 files (under 16 MB), as well as the lyrics for each song, can be e-mailed to: </span><a href="mailto:NYCSYM@aol.com"><span style="font-size: x-small; color: #006699;">NYCSYM@aol.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">. <br /><br />(A lead sheet would be helpful, but it is not required.) <br /><br />Alternatively, the application (plus audio files and lyrics) can be sent via regular mail to: <br /><br />NYC Symphony <br /><br />c/o Peace Music Foundation Contest <br /><br />481 8th Avenue. <br /><br />New York, NY 10001 <br /><br />In all cases, the $10 processing fee (see below) must be mailed to this address. <br /><br />Songs should be no longer than five minutes in length and will be judged on the basis of lyrical content and musical craft. Songs must be submitted no later than March 15, 2009. <br /><br />Award winners will be notified by phone or email upon their selection by the judges. <br /><br />Though the publishing rights for all entries submitted for the contest will remain the exclusive property of the individual authors/composers, PMF reserves the right to post them on its website, record the winning songs on a CD or DVD, and/or use the recordings of the winning songs for events connected to PMF projects. <br /><br />There is a $10 entry/processing fee for each song submitted. Checks or money orders are payable to: Peace Music Foundation. PMF is a non-profit organization in the state of New York. <br /><br /><br />For further information, please e-mail to: </span><a href="mailto:NYCSYM@aol.com"><span style="font-size: x-small; color: #006699;">NYCSYM@aol.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">. <br /><br />C. Peace Song Festival <br /><br />As part of the PMF&rsquo;s inaugural competition, a peace concert is being planned in New York at which several of the winning entries will be showcased. The tentative time for this event, called the Peace Song Festival, will be Spring of 2009. The First Annual Peace Song Award will be presented at the Festival.</span></span>