From January to June 2008, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will be sponsoring The Big Read, a nationwide initiative to encourage reading in all age groups. WUMB Radio at UMass Boston has been awarded a grant to produce and coordinate a variety of activities supporting this initiative The Big Read: Eastern Massachusetts, including: discussion groups, lectures, school projects, screenings and other events around the American classic, To Kill A Mockingbird.

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is one of this country's most important literary works. Written in the early 1960s, it is a classic account of life in a small Alabama country town much like the small town of Monroeville Alabama, the birth place of Harper Lee. While all the characters are fictional, they confront some of the major issues in the depression era South.

The To Kill A Mockingbird Songwriting Contest is a centerpiece for this range of activities. This classic piece of American Literature should provide an oasis of material from which to draw inspiration.

In celebration of "The Big Read" a national literacy program sponsored by The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), WUMB Radio has created a To Kill A Mockingbird Songwriting Contest. The contest is open to all songwriters amateur or professional.

All contest submissions must be original and each song must address the book To Kill A Mockingbird in some way. You do not have to directly refer to the book or any part of it, but may simply address a theme found in the book (i.e. Civil Rights, Southern culture, tolerance & justice). All genres of music will be accepted.

Up to five finalists will be selected to perform in front of an audience during the finals competition to be held at UMass Boston on Saturday, May 10, 2008 during "The Big Read: Eastern Massachusetts - Mockingbird Festival." Prizes will be awarded to the top three finalists. The top five songs will be posted on The Big Read: Eastern Massachusetts Website and also may be included on a CD of songs about To Kill A Mockingbird.

How to enter the contest: To receive a contest entry form, print the entry form available here, complete it and mail to the address indicated on the form. You can also call 617-287-6900 and request that an entry form be mailed or faxed to you.

Rules and Regulations:
1. Each entry must be accompanied by its own completed entry form. An original signature must be on each entry.
2. One song per CD (check to be certain your entry is playable on any CD Machine) or cassette tape.
3. Each entry must include 3 (three) legible copies of the lyrics to the song.
4. Every item included in the entry, including the song media and each lyric sheet, should be clearly marked with the entrant's name, address, phone number and email address. The names of any co-authors shall also be included if applicable.
5. $25.00 must be included for each entry (U.S. currency). Payment can be made by check or money order payable to "WUMB/TKAM Song Contest." Or, use Visa, Discover or Mastercard. DO NOT SEND CASH. Multiple entries from the same writer or co-writers can be combined into one payment.
6. All Songs must address the book To Kill A Mockingbird in some undisputable manner. All entries must be the original work of the contestant and shall not infringe any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties. Songs may have multiple co-writers, but only one name should be designated on the entry form.
7. Entrants selected as one of the (up to five) finalists shall agree to attend the "Mockingbird Festival" at UMass Boston on Saturday, May 10, 2008 and perform the selected song with no more than two additional performers at his/her own expenses except as otherwise stipulated here. Two hotel rooms plus state & local taxes will be provided at no cost at a designated local hotel if requested before May 1, 2008.

The To Kill A Mockingbird Songwriting Contest is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, insufficient postage, stolen, or misappropriated entries. CD's, cassettes, lyrics and/or other entry material will not be returned. If entrant is under 18 years old, the signature of a parent or guardian is required. All entries must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than 7:00pm March 24th. Note that you will not receive notification that your entry was received. Only finalists will be personally contacted.

Indemnity and Release: The signature on the entry form certifies that the song submitted is an original work and releases WUMB other organization associated with the contests, its sponsors and UMass Boston from all liability. The winner will be required to sign an affidavit confirming that the winning song is original and (s)he holds the rights to the song. Entry also constitutes permission to use winner's name and likeness for future advertising and publicity without compensation. Entrant will retain full rights to all work submitted for the competition.

Judging: Factors affecting the judging will include but not be limited to:
Originality
Connection to the Book
Storytelling
Musical Construction
Performance, Production, Lyrics and Music.

The judging committee will include literature professors, Southern historians and/or songwriters, to be announced soon. All entries will be part of the pre-screening process. Up to five entries will be chosen for the finalist competition on May 10, 2008 at UMass Boston. These finalist entries will be available on the Big Read: Eastern Massachusetts Web site for general audience voting, and will be factored into the final voting tally.

Prizes: Among other prizes still to be announced, up to five of the best songs will be included on a CD with other songwriters including Kate Campbell, Pete & Maura Kennedy and Erin McKeown.

Timeline:
March 24, 2008 - Postmark/hand-delivery date for song submission
April 18, 2008 - Up to five Finalists will be chosen and notified by this date
May 10, 2008 - Finalists will be expected to perform their winning song at the Mockingbird Festival at UMass Boston.

Where to Mail Entry:
"To Kill A Mockingbird" Songwriting Contest
WUMB Radio, UMass Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125-3393

Questions: Please direct all questions to wumb@umb.edu. Allow an average of one week for a response. You can call 617-287-6900 to request an entry form be mailed or faxed to you.

WUMB has certain expectations regarding participation and quality of entries. We reserve the right to cancel this contest at any time if these expectations are not met.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.