Extraordinary Australian songwriter Nathan Tasker has earned top honors at the inaugural Pacific Songwriting Competition, the southern hemisphere’s most lucrative songwriting competition. Tasker scooped the award for Songwriter of the Year for his song “I Was There” earning $10 000 in prize money.
The international competition attracted more than 1000 entries from professional and amateur songwriters in Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Germany, Indonesia, Korea, Iceland and Africa. Judges included Frankie Stevens, Suzanne Prentice and Rachael Sage.
Nathan says he is “overwhelmed” to become the competition’s first songwriter of the year. “I’m so excited and honored that I Was There has been selected from so many songs. I am very proud of it,” he adds.
“I Was There” is a key song on his latest album A Look Inside.
The sponsor of the 2005 Pacific Songwriting Competition is soprano Deborah Wai Kapohe. The New Zealand born singer has performed in operas, musicals, contemporary Maori music, arts festivals, proms, concerts, recitals, self accompanied guitar and voice recitals and special events throughout New Zealand and Australia, the UK, China and South Africa.
The Pacific Songwriting Competition aims to promote and encourage songwriters of all genres, nationalities and abilities. This year, the competition offered a total prize pool of $25 000. In 2006, $40 000 in cash prizes will be offered.
Tasker says that he is “elated and excited” about the opportunities that may open up for him after winning this award. “A massive thank you to all at the Pacific Songwriting Competition,” he says gratefully.
Nathan Tasker also won first prize in the Café Scene category for his song Hostage.
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