Lori Cullen and Brian MacMillan are the recipients of the third annual Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award for their song “Away So Long”.
Lori Cullen and Brian MacMillan were chosen by an Ontario Arts Council (OAC) selection panel from nominations put forward by the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals’ Songs from the Heart competition. They will perform their winning song at the afternoon showcase on October 15, 2005 at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals’ Conference in Kingston.
The annual $1,000 Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award supports and promotes the work of Ontario-resident emerging singer/songwriters in the genres of roots, traditional, folk and country music. The jury for this year’s competition included, songwriter Katherine Wheatley, producer, John Switzer, musician Wendell Ferguson, musician David Gillis, and Laura Bird and Shirley Richardson, both Colleen Peterson Committee members.
Toronto singer/songwriter Lori Cullen has received high praise for both her writing and performances. Her first solo CD The Garden Path received excellent reviews and her jazz CD So Much made the “best of 2003” lists of several Canadian music critics. Her most recent CD Uneven Hill is also gaining attention and momentum. Co-writer, Brian MacMillan is a multi-instrumentalist whose music is a blend of folk and pop. He is currently promoting his most recent CD, Gone to See the Morning. Lori began writing the words and melody to “Away So Long” while performing jazz for three months in Hong Kong. Brian later contributed to the song’s evolution by working with Lori on the music. The recording features Lori’s lyrics and vocals and Brian’s guitar playing.
The award honouring the late singer-songwriter Colleen Peterson was established at the Ontario Arts Council in 2003 by her sister, Shirley Richardson and singer-songwriter Laura Bird. The Ontario Arts Council administers the The Colleen Peterson Songwriting Fund and the selection process.
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Click here for more information about the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award
Click here for information about OAC awards
For more information:
Kirsten Gunter
OAC Communications Manager
416-969-7403 or kgunter@arts.on.ca
www.arts.on.ca
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