March 30, 2006

AMTP seeks songwriters for summer fest

The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP), in association with the Johnny Mercer Foundation will host a weeklong summer festival on the Evanston campus titled “The Power of the American Popular Song.”

AMTP is looking for talented young songwriters or writing teams (up to the age of 30) to participate in the festival’s free workshops and master classes. Related concerts featuring guest artists will be open to the public and have an admission charge.

The festival will be held from Aug. 7 through 12 and feature some of America’s most prominent songwriters working in the tradition of the legendary Johnny Mercer. These guest artists will serve as faculty for a weeklong educational program of master classes and workshops for a jury-selected group of young composers.

In addition to working with the student writers, guest artists will give musical performances of their own material and discuss their work as songwriters during public evening presentations throughout the week. (More details and the exact locations of these ticketed public events will follow at a later date.)

One of America’s most influential and prolific songwriters, Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) wrote some of the most enduring standards of the 20th century, including “Accentuate The Positive,” “You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby,” and “I Remember You.”

The week’s activities will culminate in a concert featuring the artists/faculty and the class of songwriters in a presentation of their songs, and a salute to the legacy of Johnny Mercer. The new material will explore the function of the popular song in shaping and reflecting American culture, experience and identity. Guest faculty will include songwriters Alan Bergman (“The Way We Were”), John Bucchino (“Grateful”) and Amanda McBroom (“The Rose”).

Applicants will be required to submit three songs for adjudication. The current deadline for submissions is April 28. All selected participants will be notified by May 26.

For an application and more information go to www.amtp.northwestern.edu or call (847) 467-0333.