Husky Gawenda has taken out the top prize of the 2014 Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition! Winning with his song "Saint John", Husky received a $50,000 prize courtesy of APRA|AMCOS and Alberts, while Meg Mac and Dave Le'aupepe of Gang of Youths came in second and third place, respectively.
The Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition is one of the world's most prestigious, with the $50,000 first place prize being the largest of any songwriting competition in the world. Former APRA Professional Development Award winner and APRA|AMCOS Ambassador Gawenda says of the win:
"I'm honoured to win the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition. That the competition supports Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, a great cause, makes it particularly rewarding. It is a big thrill for me for ‘Saint Joan’ to have been chosen from among so many great songs."
Melbourne's Meg Mac took out second prize with her song "Roll Up Your Sleeve", awarded $10,000 courtesy of AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association), while Le'aupepe's song "Poison Drum", performed by Gang of Youths, took home a $5000 prize thanks to AEG Ogden.
Sydney's Andy Bull was awarded the Encouragement Award for "Baby I Am Nobody Now", winning a cash prize of $2000 donated by 2013 winners The Preatures, as well as a production A&R feedback package with last year's second prize winner, Robert Conley, thanks to APRA|AMCOS.
All of the winners also received a copy of the recently released Vanda and Young - The Official Songbook.
