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CANADIAN SONGWRITERS COMPETE FOR MAJOR CASH PRIZES!

Over the last few months, songwriters have been competing across Canada for their chance to be discovered with the National Songwriting Competition, sponsored by Standard Radio in association with the Songwriters Association of Canada and select regional radio stations across Canada.

The contest attracted thousands of entries from songwriters across the country and was endorsed this year by the hit artist Avril Lavigne. Twelve radio stations across Canada solicited demos of unpublished songs, and from these applicants, twelve winners were chosen, spanning from British Columbia to Newfoundland. The premise for the contest is to recognize new talent in Canadian songwriting. Any self-published or non-published songwriter residing in Canada was eligible to enter.

The best writer for each region was flown to Toronto for an all-expense paid weekend and to perform at the National Songwriters Showcase, held Saturday, March 6 at The Rivoli, as part of Canadian Music Week 2004. Here, the Grand Prize winner was announced - Lea Longo, from Montreal, QC - as well as the runner-up - Steven MacDougall, from Halifax, NS.

Avril

LEA LONGO - BIO

Lea Longo is a pop/rock vocalist with a fresh new edge. She combines a dynamic stage presence with her angelic, innocent voice to deliver her original material. No matter where she plays, it seems a hush falls over the audience, as they are captivated by her compelling stories, whether told through an upbeat rocker or a delicate ballad.

What sets her apart is the content of her writing, much of which is drawn from her heartfelt stories of home and life experiences. Audiences love hearing her anecdotes about life and philosophy in her introductions. Canadian cultural themes are wound throughout many pieces, as well as triumphant songs with positive messages that have helped build a loyal following for this unique artist.

She has been performing, recording and producing music throughout the last decade in Montreal, Toronto and Los Angeles. Lea has had a successful track record, with film and TV credits in major movies and TV shows as "Dawson's Creek" and most recently, her song "Someone like me" was placed on actor Steve Martin's movie "Cheaper by the Dozen". She has also recorded and released dance and pop songs for Polydor, NuMuzik, Star Records and other indie labels. One of her songs, "Private Fantasy" charted number 5 on the Canadian dance charts. She also recorded an Italian jazz album (featuring Italian language standards, recorded in '98 with the Bourassa Trio in Montreal) and several pop cuts (two of her dance numbers were licensed in Poland and Italy on dance compilations). Lea has had numerous television appearances as well as extensive airplay in Montreal and Toronto, on stations such as Energy 108 and Hot 103.4 FM

Capitalizing on her vocal talent, musicianship and enthusiasm, Lea has performed everywhere from jazz venues, concert halls and various clubs from Place des Arts to Casino de Montreal. More recently, she has taken her original material from clubs in Montreal to venues as far afield as the MGM Las Vegas, the Bitter End in New York City, and L.A. clubs such as the ever famous VIPER Room, Martini Lounge, The Gig, LUSH, and various California Festivals as the French festival and NOHO festival.

A consummate performer, Lea is "at home" onstage, applying her past experience as a dancer and actress along with her training in voice, martial arts and music (she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) from Concordia University). She has also done jingle work, voice-overs, theatre and film roles. Although she is a classic beauty, it's her inner beauty that shines through.

Her original material combines a/c rock numbers with delicate ballads that weave positive themes of Lea's optimistic view of life. Although you can hear influences of pop and rock in her music, she has developed arrangements that tie it all together in a clearly a/c pop sound that will be highly viable in the commercial market.

With her tough will to succeed, dynamic attitude, and hooky melodies, Lea is truly a unique artist. You can only expect to see Lea Longo emerge as a major force on the music scene!

Lea
Lea Longo
As the Grand Prize Winner of the National Songwriting Competition, Lea receives the following prize package:

GRAND PRIZE

• $10,000 in cash (first runner-up receives $2,500 cash)
• 30 hours mixing and mastering time from Metal Works Studios - voted Canada's #1 Recording Studio 6 years in a row
• Winning song will receive mixing services from producer John Wozniak (singer/songwriter, Marcy Playground)
• $2500 website design & hosting sponsored by Simaltech.com
Neumann M 147 Studio Tube professional microphone
GENELEC 1029A Bi-Amplified Monitoring System for project and home studios
• A promotional release by BMG Music Canada.




REGIONAL WINNERS

Congratulations to the following regional winners of the 11th Annual National Songwriting Competition:

NSC Prizes
Sonicjoy
Downtyme
Superseed
Dave Pura
Dana Radford
Malynda Zacharias
Amy Nodwell
Carleton Bovell
Lea Longo
Steven MacDougall
Three Season Ant
Andrew LeDrew


REGIONAL PRIZES

Each regional winner received the following regional prize package:
• An all-expense paid weekend, including round-trip airfare, to Canadian Music Week, March 3-6, 2004 at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto
• A private seminar with Canada's most successful songwriters
• An IBANEZ PF20 Artwood Acoustic Guitar
• A SENNHEISER Studio/Live package including an E 865 condenser vocal microphone, stand, cable and HD 280 professional headphones
TASCAM's CD-GT1 - the ultimate training and jamming tool for guitarists and vocalists
• A copy of MasterWriter – a complete collection of writing tools for the modern songwriter

Click here for 2003 winners

  
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