It's about the words and the music.
The Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards honors the best songwriters in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
The contest includes a live performance at Strathmore and will award one songwriter a grand prize of $10,000. Winner will also receive a recording and business strategy package provided by Innovation Station Music.
One young songwriter under 17 will also be honored with an award of $2,500. All finalists in both categories will receive smaller cash prizes and will be featured on Strathmore’s social media platforms.
Now in its ninth year, the competition is presented by Strathmore, and the final performance will take place at the Music Center at Strathmore on April 24, 2026.
About the Competition
The Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards are presented annually, honoring the best adult and youth songwriters in the region through a multi-level adjudication process, culminating in a live performance featuring the nominated songs.
The competition, founded by Cathy Bernard, is named in honor of her uncle Fred Ebb, a great American songwriter and creator of Broadway hits such as Cabaret and Chicago, as well as iconic songs including "New York, New York."
2023/24 Winners
Adult Category
Eryn Michel
Maryland songwriter Eryn Michel has been writing folk, Americana, and country songs since the late 20th century. After serving in Iraq, Eryn earned a political science degree from UCLA and worked in the Obama White House before turning to music and motherhood to restore her soul. Since overcoming stage fright and debuting at an open mic at age 32, Eryn has opened for folk legend David Buskin and performed at Nashville’s Bluebird Café. As a dedicated songwriter, she won American Songwriter Magazine's Fall 2023 Lyric Contest and enjoys the collaborative process of co-writing music. Eryn is also studying vocal habitation and music therapy, with a special interest in palliative care, justice-affected populations, and veterans.
Explore Past Winners (Adult Category)
Youth Category
Sarah Baumgarten
Sarah Mariel Baumgarten, also known as Mariel, is a 17-year-old folk-rock singer-songwriter from Arlington, Virginia. With a passion for creating intricate narratives, her songs often intertwine, featuring lifelike characters and complex stories of fantastical adventures. She typically performs on acoustic guitar and draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists, such as The Oh Hellos, Radical Face, Ella Fitzgerald, Jacob Collier, and Fiona Apple. A songwriter since the third grade, Mariel was a finalist in the 2018 Bernard/Ebb competition and had the honor of opening for Audra MacDonald at The Hamilton the same year. Last summer, she received the prestigious Maddy Award at Interlochen Arts Camp. Mariel regularly plays solo shows in Arlington and DC, while also balancing AP Chemistry homework, singing in jazz combo at school, and petting her cat, Lyric.
Explore Past Winners (Youth Category)Strathmore extends its deepest gratitude to Cathy, Alex, and Amanda Bernard for their unwavering dedication to our region’s talented songwriters and for generously investing in this meaningful event.
Strathmore is grateful for Innovation Station Music for its support of this program.