Welcome to the web page for the Singer/Songwriter Challenge!
On Facebook you can find us and our songs at https://www.facebook.com/singersongwritersummerchallenge/
When Laurel Hay, Ben Tomandl, and Mark Hay first started this group, they only imagined that it would be a fun Summer project for the year. A song a week challenge prompted by certain words, phrases, or photos would soon turn in to something much bigger than any of them ever thought possible. Now the group boasts over 50+ songwriters for the 2020 Challenge. There is also a Winter Challenge edition that begins January 1st each year, because who doesn't need a fun New Years Resolution to spark their creativity. The difference with the Winter challenge is that it runs a little bit longer because each writer gets 2 weeks to write each song. The idea behind that is that it is cold in the Midwest and everyone tends to hibernate and slow down a bit. Also, Laurel is a teacher so that explains a lot. Even though the group added a Winter Challenge... they are still known as Singer/Songwriter Summer Challenge on Facebook, because it was already established before they added the Winter Challenge. The writing groups keep growing and growing, and while that happens, the quality of the songs are getting better and better.
The group has a showcase at the end of each writing session. The showcase has been held in many different locations over the years, but now has a home base at Ziggy's on Mainstreet in Downtown Stillwater, MN. Typically, most songwriters in the group are from MN or WI, and Stillwater is a great fit right on the boarder. However, the group has also had members from Florida, Missouri, New York and many other states who participate, and they are always welcome to join for the showcase as well!
Check in on our Facebook page to follow along with the new songs being written and posted each week.
Songwriters (both past and present) include:
Laurel Hay
Sarah Morris
Katy Vernon
Pat Egan
Ben Tomandl
Annie Fitzgerald
Roy Holdren
Nigel Egg
John Louis
Briana Lane
Andrew Dunn
Meg Durkin
Tim Cheesebrow
Graham Bramblett
Keith Chrysler
Jess Gamble
Jen Bluhm
Dave Novak
Tim Fast
Jillian Rae
Kelly Augustine
Tim Houllihan
Steven Peterson
Leo Ohmann
Dan Lugo
Diana Ohmann
Matt French
Bruce Caswell
Janice Snyder
Mike Haldorson
Brian Barthow
Steve Sullivan
Alison Neil
Jess Trigger
Pete Elkin
Jake Bosben
Mark Grim
Amanda Lynn
Karen Folman
Vickey Emerson
Alison Swan
Andriana Leahr
and so many more!!!