Neil Sedaka, Amanda McBroom To Judge Tudor City Contest

The Concerts at Tudor City Greens, the free outdoor concert series in the heart of Midtown, has announced a songwriting contest of songs celebrating New York's parks and green spaces, and the different roles they play in the lives of New Yorkers. The jury includes Neil Sedaka, Amanda McBroom, Ann Hampton Callaway, Michael John LaChiusa, David Friedman, and Matt Parillo, the vice president of production at MTV Networks. Raissa Katona Bennett, who hosts the series, will make the announcement at today's free concert at 6:30pm.

Fully realized songs (music and lyrics) will be evaluated by the panel, who will help pick the winning song, to be announced in the fall of 2012.Submissions will be accepted through the end of the year. Eight semifinalist songs will be performed during next summer's concert series. The three top songs, chosen through a combination of online and jury voting, will be performed at a special concert at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency in the fall or winter of 2012.

The Concerts at Tudor City Greens, now in its fourth season, take place at the South Park of Tudor City Greens (between 41st & 42nd Streets, and 1st & 2nd Avenues).

Tonight's concert, (rain date: Thursday August 4 at 6:30pm), entitled "Swinging on the Moon - Cool Jazz for a Hot Summer Night," features a diverse group of singers and instrumentalists from the worlds of Broadway, classical, jazz and cabaret, including John DeMarco, Dan Furman, Anders Holst, Tom Hubbard, Daryl Kojak, Shaynee Rainbolt, Gabriella Stravelli, Sean Harkness, and Terese Geneco.

The next concerts are September 7 and October 5, all Wednesdays at 6:30pm. The series' mission is to encourages greater support and protection of New York green spaces while increasing new audiences for live music. Tudor City Greens is one of a small number of privately maintained public spaces in New York. The parks are maintained by the nonprofit tenants' group Tudor City Greens. For contest information visit www.raissakatonabennett.com