The “When Voices Rise Songwriting Contest” has announced the winners and finalists of its inaugural national competition.
More than 200 songwriters from across the United States submitted works to the competition which recognizes original songs that confront social issues.
The 2026 winners are:
First Prize ($1,000): Crys Matthews — Forged in Fire
Second Prize ($500): Karina Daza — Extranjera
Third Prize ($500): Rissi Palmer — Seeds
The three winning songs, along with the eight remaining finalists, will be showcased during a special concert at New York City’s Joe’s Pub on August 21.
Hosted by Mexican composer and musical theater storyteller Jaime Lozano, the evening will celebrate the role of music as both artistic expression and social conscience.
The contest attracted participants from across generations. Entrants ranged in age from 18 to over 75 years old. Among survey respondents, more than one-third were age 65 or older, while nearly one-third were under age 45.
Winners were selected by a panel journalists and industry creators that included María Hinojosa, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno and Doug Yeager, the producer and artist manager whose five-decade career has helped shape the legacies of artists including Odetta, Richie Havens, and Tom Paxton.
