Songwriter Serenade Competition

05/08/2026

Rain poured. The smokers kept going. And delivered one amazing meal after another all weekend long. 🌧️🔥 Friday night’s welcome BBQ for contestants,volunteers, & staff could’ve been a washout, but Gregg and Casey handled it all flawlessly, serving up food everyone was still talking about days later. Somewhere between the BBQ, the rain, and the music circles that broke out afterward, strangers became friends and the weekend truly began.
We are so grateful for this hardworking crew who helped make the weekend special. More photos to come! 📸photos by:

05/06/2026

Behind every moment this past weekend was our incredible volunteer team-led by Alice & George Clarke. From keeping everything running seamlessly at Saturday’s event to making countless trips between the airport and the Ranch, welcoming & sending off our very grateful contestants, their dedication never wavered and we are so grateful.
Thank you to this entire team for continually showing up and making it all possible! Photo by 📸

05/04/2026

What a weekend! Filled with incredible music, deeply felt performances, and the kind of moments that remind us why this event means so much year after year. We watched talented songwriters take the stage, shared in their stories behind their songs, and felt the energy of a community that truly loves and supports live music. Beyond the contest, it was the connections that made the weekend unforgettable...old friends reunited, new ones formed, and so many meaningful conversations in between. We’re so grateful to everyone who was part of it-on stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience.
And this is just the beginning… we’ll be sharing some amazing photos over the coming days, so stay tuned as we relive it all together.

05/02/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 winner Natalie Price Music and every semifinalist who performed today. What a show!

Thank you to everyone who came out to Schulenburg. See you tonight at 7pm for the judges' evening concert!

05/02/2026

We're live in Schulenburg.

Watch the 2026 Songwriter Serenade here:
https://fb.watch/GRT90xiWmJ/

15 songwriters competing all day. Tag someone who'd want to tune in.

05/01/2026

Tomorrow.

Doors at 11 at St. John Outdoor Pavilion in Schulenburg. 15 songwriters competing all day, judged by Kim Richey, Susan Gibson, Walt Wilkins, and Josh Grider. Those four play a concert that night.

Food by Casey Lee’s . Drinks by Henry K’s.

Can't make it to Schulenburg? We're streaming the whole thing live.

Contest $15. Concert $20. Both $30.
Tickets: https://www.songwriterserenade.com/tickets.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ss_2026_tickets&utm_content=tomorrow_feed_20260501
Livestream: https://www.songwriterserenade.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ss_2026_event&utm_content=livestream_tomorrow_anchor_20260501

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Songwriter Serenade competition. Saturday, May 2, 2026. $15 per ticket.

04/28/2026

Meet your 2026 Songwriter Serenade semifinalist: Teni Rane from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Teni Rane's songs are rooted in the natural beauty around her — Appalachian songbirds, white oaks, and wildflower fields — while exploring deeper currents of loneliness, longing, and belonging. An introspective songwriter shaped by time in Arkansas, Sweden, and Northeast Tennessee, she has returned to her roots in Chattanooga, where she continues to follow her artistic calling.

Teni is one of 15 songwriters competing live at St. John Outdoor Pavilion on Saturday, May 2in Schulenburg, Texas.

Contest tickets: $15 | Concert tickets: $20
Grab yours: https://www.songwriterserenade.com/tickets.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ss_2026_tickets&utm_content=spotlight_rane_feed_20260429

04/27/2026

Meet your 2026 Songwriter Serenade semifinalist: Stephanie Sammons from Dallas, Texas.

Sammons has been described as a singer of subtle emotion with a voice that communicates ache without raising its volume. Her delivery is restrained, but never distant — each lyric a quiet revelation. This thoughtful, introspective style reflects her nature as an empath and an introvert — someone who chooses clarity over clamor, and substance over spectacle.

Stephanie is one of 15 songwriters competing live at St. John Outdoor Pavilion on Saturday, May 2in Schulenburg, Texas.

Contest tickets: $15 | Concert tickets: $20
Grab yours: https://www.songwriterserenade.com/tickets.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ss_2026_tickets&utm_content=spotlight_sammons_feed_20260427

04/25/2026

Here's what May 2 looks like.

11am–2pm: Semifinals. 15 songwriters perform two original songs before judges and a live audience.
2pm–3pm: Lunch break. Casey Lee's BBQ and Henry K's Tavern on site.
3pm–4pm: Finals. The top 7 perform again.
4:30pm: Awards ceremony.
7pm–9pm: Winner Showcase & Judges Concert.

Two tickets. One full day.

Contest tickets: $15
Concert tickets: $20

Get yours: https://www.songwriterserenade.com/tickets.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ss_2026_tickets&utm_content=what_to_expect_feed_20260425

Kim Richey Walt Wilkins Susan Gibson Josh Grider Casey Lee’s Henry K’s

04/24/2026

Meet your 2026 Songwriter Serenade semifinalist: Sarah Morris from Shoreview, Minnesota.

A graduate of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Sarah has spent her career immersing herself in the art of writing enduring Americana melodies. Her approach dwells somewhere between vocal precision and the contours of a heart that remains pointedly human, with a lyrical sensibility that lies just beyond what can be expected of mere syllables and sound.

Sarah is one of 15 songwriters competing live at St. John Outdoor Pavilion on Saturday, May 2in Schulenburg, Texas.

Contest tickets: $15 | Concert tickets: $20
Grab yours: https://www.songwriterserenade.com/tickets.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ss_2026_tickets&utm_content=spotlight_morris_feed_20260424

05/11/2025

Already missing this beautiful TR Ranch and the incredible music that filled it last weekend! The contestants, judges, and many visitors all brought the energy. Truly a magical weekend!! 📸.eh1