Ebenezer Middle School eighth grader Connor Johnson is one of nine finalists in the Savannah Folk Music Festival’s youth songwriting competition.

Johnson, 13, will take part in the finals, which are set for Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. in Stewart Hall of First Presbyterian Church, 520 Washington Ave. in Savannah.

 

Other finalists, each performing his or her own original song, are: Lacey Caldwell, age 17, of Tybee Island; Cara Diaz, age 10, a fifth grader at St. Frances Cabrini School; Carolyn Gibbs, age 15, a student at Savannah Arts Academy; Leila Kyriacos, age 11, a sixth grader at St. Andrews; Lauren Maxwell, age 15, a student at Richmond Hill High School; Nicholas Roebuck, age 19, from Midway; Niki Walker, age 13, an eighth grader at Coastal Middle School; and Cecilia Witt, age 17, a student at St. Vincent’s Academy.

 

The nine finalists will be competing for $1,000 in prizes provided by event sponsor AMR Music. The winner will also appear on Oct. 10 at the Concert at Grayson Stadium, the Festival’s final event, and perform the winning song following an appearance by the headliner, internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter, Karla Bonoff. The Savannah Folk Music Festival, in its 21st year, is produced by the Savannah Folk Music Society with the assistance of the Savannah Cultural Affairs Department, the Gretsch Foundation and others.

 

For more information, call (912) 786-6953 or on the Web visit www.savannahfolk.org.