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The 8th Annual Art of Music Writing Contest

Since 2001, The Art of Music Annual Writing Contest has encouraged poets, authors, and songwriters to write on music-related topics as well as come forward with music-related poems, short stories, essays, and song lyrics they have written. The winning entries, along with the top scoring entries, are published in our anthology, The Art of Music - A Collection of Writings. The anthology gives writers a chance to share their music-related pieces and experience those written by others. The Art of Music - A Collection of Writings has been used in university-level poetry courses and can be found in libraries and bookstores as well as museum and performing art center gift shops. Portions of the proceeds from the anthology are donated to Breast Cancer Research.
The editor, Elizabeth C. Axford, is a breast cancer survivor.

Please read the contest rules below.

Click here for a printable contest entry form. (78K PDF)

The Art of Music Annual Writing Contest
RULES & REGULATIONS

Each entry must include the following:

Completed entry form (photocopy is acceptable) with original signature.
Typed manuscript including title and music-related written work only. Do not include any identification on the actual manuscript.
$20 entry fee per entry (please include check, money order, or PayPal receipt).

Checks and money orders should be made payable to Piano Press. Payment from countries outside the US must be in the form of an international money order.

All entries must be postmarked on or before June 30, 2008

Categories include:

Poem
Short Story
Essay
Song Lyric
Illustration for Cover Art

Mail entries to:
Piano Press Contest Dept.
PO Box 85
Del Mar, CA 92014-0085

All entries submitted must be original and shall not infringe any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties. Entrant shall, by entering, indemnify and hold Piano Press harmless from and against any claims inconsistent with the foregoing.

The Art of Music Annual Writing Contest is open to all amateur and professional writers and anyone regardless of nationality or origin. Employees of Piano Press, its families, subsidiaries, and affiliates are not eligible. If entrant is under 18 years old, the signature of a parent or guardian is required.

Entrant may submit as many writings as desired in each category. Multiple entries may be sent in one package with one check, money order, or PayPal receipt. All entry fees are non-refundable.

Entry materials submitted will not be returned. Piano Press is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, postage due, stolen, or misappropriated entries.

Piano Press will screen all entries, and the finalists will be sent to the judges who will select the winners. The 2008 judging committee consists of published authors, poets, and songwriters.

Winners will be announced by October 31, 2008. Winners will be notified by mail. Winners will be required to sign an affidavit confirming that winner's entry is original and he/she holds the rights to the writing. Failure to sign and return the form within fourteen days or provision of false information will result in immediate disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Affidavits are subject to verification by Piano Press and its agents. Entry constitutes permission to use winner's name, likeness, and voice for future advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation.

Contest prizes include publication in The Art of Music - A Collection of Writings or publication by Piano Press, one copy of each poetry anthology, an engraved trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize ($150 1st, $100 2nd, $50 3rd). All federal, state, and local taxes, and customs fees, when applicable, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Piano Press will not pay any winners' taxes. Prizes will be sent out within a reasonable amount of time, and Piano Press will use its best efforts to send prizes out in a timely fashion.

Entrant retains all ownership rights to the submitted writing(s) and/or illustration(s).

Piano Press reserves the right to exclude any entries deemed inappropriate.

By submitting an application form to Piano Press, entrant agrees to be bound by the Piano Press contest entry rules and regulations established herein.