Songwriters in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. are invited to compete for $10,000 and a chance to perform on one of the region’s premier stages. Applications are now open for the 10th Anniversary Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, founded by Cathy Bernard to honor her uncle, Broadway legend Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York). The competition culminates in a live concert featuring the finalists at the Music Center at Strathmore right here in Montgomery County on April 24, 2026.
Winners will receive substantial cash prizes: $10,000 plus $1,500 in studio recording credit for the top adult songwriter, and $2,500 for a standout youth songwriter under 17. More information and application details are available here: Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards. Last year’s winners were Baltimore-based recording artistWordsmith, known for fusing hip-hop, jazz, pop, and rock, and Rockville high-school student Aaron Swibel, whose music blends pop, ballads, country, and rock.
This milestone year for the Bernard/Ebb Awards comes as Strathmore launches its 2025–2026 Season, underscoring the non-profit’s commitment to both emerging and established artists. The season opens this fall with bestselling authorElizabeth Gilbert (Sept. 21), Black Violin Full Circle Tour with Amythyst Kiah (Sept. 25), and Hiromi’s Sonicwonder (Sept. 26), alongside exhibitions and chamber performances in the Mansion.
