Creative Sonoma songwriting contest ends Jan. 9

Sonoma Valley songwriter/producer Cliff Goldmacher will work one-on-one with the selected songwriter to reshape the original song and record the track.|

Creative Sonoma’s Next Level program is designed to “celebrate the musical talent and exploration occurring across the county and to provide advice and expertise to help local musicians move their careers forward.”

The program, funded in its first two years as a pilot program for the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, recognizes five bands or musicians living and working in Sonoma County. Bands or musicians will receive a $2,500 grant in support of their proposed project, along with 10 hours of one-on-one consulting time with professional experts in areas that align with the applicant’s grant-activity request.

Creative Sonoma’s Next Level Music Industry Program for 2019 includes three components: a full-day conference, a songwriting contest and grant program for musicians.

This year’s theme is “expanding boundaries.”

Sonoma County songwriters are invited to submit a demo track to be considered for a chance to have it workshopped and re-recorded with a backing band of Nashville musicians.

The live remote recording session will occur as a live webcast at the Next Level Conference on Feb. 10 at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. Sonoma songwriter/producer Cliff Goldmacher will work one-on-one with the selected songwriter to reshape the original song, record the track and lead the remote recording session.

Goldmacher is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and tri-coastal producer whose credits include collaborations with Keb’ Mo, Lisa Loeb, Mickey Hart, Mindy Smith, Kesha and more. Nashville musicians for the session will be drawn from Goldmacher’s network of players including musicians who have worked with Bonnie Raitt, Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift, and played at the Grand Ole Opry.

Enter the contest online at creativesonoma.org/songwriting-contest/.

The Next Level conference will take place on Feb. 10 in Santa Rosa. The deadline for the songwriting contest is Jan. 9.

The online application process for grants will open Feb. 11.

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