Every year in October, the Pensacola Seashore Songwriters Pageant provides a particular alternative for music lovers to listen to concerning the tales behind the songs.
This annual sequence will return October 4-8, internet hosting 100 native and nationwide artists at 19 downtown and beachside venues. Created by Reneda Cross Pasquale and her late husband Jim, this annual occasion not solely spotlights musicians and their songs however reaches out to the neighborhood via music schooling.
Pasquale began as a volunteer at a songwriter competition greater than 25 years in the past and after simply two years, she expanded upon that position to turn out to be a coordinator. It’s a profession she’s held ever since, and one which she talks about with heat whereas discussing the Pensacola Seashore Songwriters Pageant.
“I had been organizing festivals for a few years previous to beginning the Pensacola Seashore Songwriters Pageant, so for me, it was like stepping again into doing what I like another time…Supporting the songwriters and dealing with the neighborhood,” Pasquale stated.
Pasquale stated that being attentive to the experiences that songwriters share of their songs, has given her an entire new perspective on what music is all about.
“I really feel like lots of people could take songs type of as a right. They hear them and love the tune, however don’t understand the that means of the lyrics behind it,” Pasquale stated. “So, this occasion actually does function far more than only a reside music occasion.”
Whereas drawing individuals from all around the nation, and some internationally, the Pensacola Seashore Songwriters Pageant can also be meant to function an academic occasion for audiences. “We wish individuals to benefit from the music and understand what these individuals undergo to get these songs to you. Music schooling is the muse of our competition,” Pasquale stated.
“The Pensacola Seashore Songwriters Pageant started again in 2009, when my husband and I had been contacted by Renee Mack, who’s the overall supervisor of Paradise Bar & Grill, asking if I might take into account beginning a songwriters competition on Pensacola Seashore,” Pasquale defined. “After assembly along with her that very same August, we selected a timeframe and the primary competition got here to life about six weeks later. It’s solely continued to develop ever since.”
The inaugural songwriters competition kicked off in 2009 with 12 songwriters acting at 5 taking part venues on Pensacola Seashore. Now, greater than a decade later, the occasion has grown to incorporate 100 artists acting at greater than 18 venues throughout Pensacola Seashore and downtown Pensacola.
“Final yr was our first yr again since 2019. With the passing of our occasion co-founder Jim Pasquale, the COVID-19 pandemic and the bridge outage, the 2021 occasion didn’t occur,” Pasquale defined. “So, we had been actually happy to have made that type of comeback and we’re anticipating twice that for this yr’s occasion.”
Proceeds from the Pensacola Seashore Songwriters Pageant go to help music schooling and enlargement within the classroom.
“Through the occasion, we companion with three native elementary and center faculties to show kids the affect music offers in fostering creativity, confidence and self-discipline,” Pasquale stated. “Songwriters that take part within the Nashville Nation Music Corridor of Fame ‘Phrases & Music’ program will host the workshops in our affiliated faculties. One among their goals is to convey songwriters into the classroom to supply instruction and mentoring across the artwork of music. Kids are inspired to take part within the course of of making their very own songs and take the stage to carry out their very own creations.”
Along with its outreach packages in native faculties, the competition will convey its music packages into Valerie’s Home, Magdalene’s and Tempo Middle for Ladies.
The Pensacola Seashore Songwriters Pageant will function a number of songwriter showcases and particular occasions October 4-8 at completely different venues throughout Pensacola Seashore and downtown Pensacola. Performances will function greater than 100 artists and songwriters representing quite a lot of music genres corresponding to nation, rock, folks, pop, blues and bluegrass.
For extra info and to view the entire lineup of scheduled occasions and performances by location, go to pensacolabeachsongwritersfestival.com.
