February 6, 2026
6:30-8:00 P.M.
Join us for Spring Arbor University's annual community celebration of original music at the Babbie Mason Songwriting Competition! Witness incredible talent as our finalists perform their original compositions live, enjoy special performances from featured guests, and hear inspirational insights from renowned gospel artist, two-time DOVE award winner, and SAU alumna, Babbie Mason. It's an evening of unforgettable music, community, and creativity!
Interested in Submitting an Original Piece?
The competition is open to both Spring Arbor internal and external applicants so tell your friends, family members, and communities!
You may submit a MP3 or MP4 digital file of your song, as well as a lyric sheet, to [email protected] by January 21, 2026. You may also submit a YouTube or SoundCloud link with your submission. SAU music department professors and special alumna guest, Babbie Mason, will determine the top finalists for the live, in-person competition event. Winners receive cash prizes!
If you are selected as a finalist for the live competition, you will receive notification via email with additional details of the live event. Don’t forget to take part in this fun event by submitting your original songs by January 21 or joining us for the live competition on February 6 as we celebrate the joy that music brings to us all!
Songwriting Workshop
Interested in expanding your songwriting skills? Attend the Songwriting Workshop on Saturday, February 7 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Smith Music Center and get an opportunity to present your piece, get feedback from professionals, and work on your craft! Lunch is included in the registration fee. Register now using the button below.
Entry Policy
We are committed to fostering creativity and originality in our songwriting contest. Therefore, we have established the following policy regarding entries:
- Original Work Requirement: All submissions must be the original work of the entrant.
The song must be written entirely by the participant without the assistance of AI
technologies or tools.
- No AI Assistance: Entries created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) systems
- such as AI songwriting tools, content generators, or any other forms of automated
text generation are not eligible for submission.
- Disqualification: Any entry found to violate this policy will be disqualified from the contest, and the entrant may be prohibited from future participations.
