Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project Deadline 4/13, Intensive Held 6/21-6/27

The April 13 application deadline for the 4th annual Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project is fast approaching. The no-fee, weeklong songwriting intensive, presented by The Johnny Mercer Foundation and the American Music Theatre Project and led by award-winning artists Craig Carnelia, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Lari White, will be held June 21 - 27 on the campus of Northwestern University just outside of Chicago.

The program has helped launch the careers of talented young songwriters and writing teams from all popular music genres, including Adam Gwon, the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Fred Ebb Award, and the songwriting team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who won the 2007 Jonathan Larson Award. Applications are currently being accepted, and must be postmarked by April 13th (deadline has been extended). Previous workshop alumni, who also include Christy Altomare, Michael Descoteaux, Chris Dimond, Keith Dworkin, Michael Kooman, Phoebe Kruetz and Dayna Malow have earned great success in their songwriting careers. Among them, they've had many works commissioned and produced and won numerous honors, including Grammy nominations and an Emmy, as well as the After Dark Award, the Paynter Award, the William Daniels Award and ASCAP's Harold Adamson Lyric Award.

This year's intensive songwriting program will be led by master teachers Craig Carnelia, Tony Award-nominated composer and lyricist of the Broadway musical "Sweet Smell of Success"; Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist and creator and star of the Broadway musical "In The Heights"; and Lari White, three-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter. It will include master classes and workshops, a master teacher cabaret and a student songwriter showcase. The week will culminate with a special "Johnny Mercer Celebration Concert" honoring his centennial and featuring two special guest stars - award-winning actress, singer and recording artist Liz Callaway and vocalist Capathia Jenkins - along with performances by the Johnny Mercer program's master teachers and songwriters.

Last year's program featured emerging songwriters from across the country in the fields of pop, music theatre, hip-hop, folk, Latin and country. To qualify, writers must be between the ages of 18 to 30. For writing teams, at least one member must meet this criterion.

Johnny Mercer, master of the American song and award-winning composer of "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Accentuate the Positive" and "Moon River," was dedicated throughout his career to the development of young songwriters and singers. Through the generosity of The Johnny Mercer Foundation, there is no fee for this workshop for the writers and writing teams selected, and a stipend will be offered to cover a portion of travel and boarding expenses.

To learn more and download an application, visit:
http://www.amtp.northwestern.edu/mercer.html

The Johnny Mercer Foundation is a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving and celebrating the work of Johnny Mercer and other great American songwriters, and introducing their music to a new generation through educational programs for students from elementary through college age. The Foundation also supports charitable organizations through royalties from Mercer's more than 1,500 songs. 2009 marks the centennial of his birth. To learn more about the Foundation, visit:
http://johnnymercerfoundation.com/intro.html

About The American Music Theatre Project:
The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) nourishes the vitality of American music theatre through the development and production of new musicals by music theatre's leading artists; increased opportunities for education and training with Northwestern's theatre, dance and opera programs; and the creation of new opportunities for intersections between the professional and academic communities. To learn more about AMTP, visit:
http://www.amtp.northwestern.edu/index.html

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