Sparks & Wiry Cries will be hosting the first-ever GRAND songSLAM in Knoxville in partnership with NATS, at the Knoxville Convention Center on June 26th, 2020, at 8 pm on the opening night of the NATS National Conference! 

What is it you ask? 

The Sparks & Wiry Cries songSLAM is a unique opportunity for composer/singer/pianist teams to premiere new art songs and compete for cash prizes. Each team will present a world premiere song of no more than 5 minutes for voice and piano in any language for the voting audience, who—in the poetry slam tradition—will then vote on their favorites by ballot and award $2,000 in prize money:

$1,000 for first place, $600 for second place and $400 for third place

Since this is our first GRAND songSLAM - we are inviting all past slam participants in North America (from over 17 slams), and anyone who is already planning to attend the NATS National Conference, to register to take part in this event on the opening night. You must have a team together at the time of registration, who will ALL attend the event. Registration is first come first served and can fill up in less than 30 minutes after opening. There is no age limit for those who wish to apply.  Interested musicians should sign up HERE when registration opens on MARCH 15th at 6pm EST.  It is earlier than usual to register for an event that is months away, but we are doing this so that you may take advantage of the early bird registration fee for NATS, which reduces the costs considerably.  Speaking of that:

Registrants for the GRAND songSLAM get a few perks:

• Registration through SPARKS: There is usually a $20 registration fee to 'Sparks' for each team to register, but as this is our first GRAND songSLAM, Sparks is waiving OUR fee: Sparks registration is FREE.
• Registration through NATS: We have received a fabulous discount for all songSLAM teams! If you register and are preliminarily accepted for the songSLAM, we will send you a discount code that you can use that will work even on top of the early bird registration fee that will discount your costs a further 30%!   Early bird registration for NATS closes APRIL 1st.  YOUR REGISTRATION for songSLAM is ONLY COMPLETE AFTER YOU HAVE REGISTERED FOR BOTH NATS and songSLAM.
• We will have a Sparks & Wiry Cries booth from which you can sell your song scores (any song scores) without ANY royalty taken
• This will also be the debut of the new songSLAM songbook - that will be selling from the booth and at the event! There are past songSLAM composers that will receive a royalty every time that book is sold!

Thank you for reading and if you have questions, please email Martha Guth at sparksandwirycries@gmail.com

All best wishes, and good luck!

Martha Guth

Co-Director Sparks & Wiry Cries

Assistant Professor of Voice, Ithaca College