STA Songwrters Competition

Local songwriters are invited to participate in the STA Songwriters Competition in October, 2026, and those who appreciate singer-songwriters are invited to attend all four events. The contest nights are Thursdays, October 1, 8, 22, and 29, 2026.

The Events

Amy Hendrickson, a local singer-songwriter and active member of St. Augustine's music community, organized and hosted STA Songwriters Competitions over several years, with the last one taking place more than 10 years ago. Chelsea Saddler, Kat Archer, John Bailey, and Michael Jordan serve as judges.

Once Hendrickson and the judges have chosen the top 20 contenders, each musician will be given a slot in one of the first two weeks of the competition.

• Week 1 - October 1, 2026: Ten contestants compete by performing one song at Spinster Abbots. The judges choose five who will move forward.
• Week 2 - October 8, 2026: The other ten contestants compete, and five move forward. 
• Week 3 - October 22, 2026: The ten semi-finalists compete to win one of five slots for the finals.
• Week 4 - October 29, 2026: The five finalists compete to win first prize.

The public is invited to attend these four contests/concerts. Please keep in mind that the organizers and judges will create a "listening room" environment. Or as Hendrickson has said, "There will be shushers. We want the judges and the audience to hear every word and every note."

Event Details

Admission: May be $10.00. 

When: Thursdays, October 1, 8, 22, and 29, 2026, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Where: Spinster Abbott's Taproom, 61 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, Florida  32084

For the Songwriters

How to Enter

• You must be a resident of St. Johns County. All ages are welcome.
• Entry for participation is open from August 5 through September 15, 2026.
• Put your original song(s) on a thumb drive or other portable device and physically take it to Spinster Abbott's Bodega, 61 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine.
• There will be a box for your entry and a sign-up sheet, which you must complete.
• A music selection team will review all entries and make considered choices. 
• You will hear from them by September 20, letting you know whether you will be competing and, if so, which night you start (October 1 or 8).

The Competition

• There will be a sound engineer every night of the contest.
• Each night, the contestants' names are placed in a hat and drawn to determine the performance order.
• Amy has assembled a group of judges from venue managers, past contest winners, and other prominent members of St. Augustine's music community.
• Each contestant plays one original song each night. As you move forward in the competition, you may choose to play the same song or perform a different original song for any round.

The Prizes

We will have more details on the prizes later. There will be a cash prize for the first-place winner, plus other considerations regarding gigs at select events in the coming year. 

Funding

Want to learn more and support the return of the STA Songwriters Competition? Check out their Kickstarter Page.