Be Our Guest with Jaime Lozano and Nancy Cheser (When Voices Rise Songwriting Contest and Concert)

The When Voices Rise Songwriting Contest announced the winners and finalists of its inaugural national competition, recognizing original songs that confront urgent social issues while celebrating music’s enduring ability to inspire action, foster community, and challenge injustice.At a time when journalists, musicians, and cultural commentators have questioned why today’s political and social upheavals have not sparked a protest-song movement on the scale of the 1960s, more than 200 songwriters from across the United States responded with powerful works reflecting the urgency, complexity, and hope of the current moment.The 2026 winners are:First Prize ($1,000): Crys Matthews — Forged in FireSecond Prize ($500): Karina Daza — ExtranjeraThird Prize ($500): Rissi Palmer — SeedsThe three winning songs, along with the eight remaining finalists, will be showcased during a special concert at New York City's acclaimed Joe's Pub on August 21, 2026. Hosted by acclaimed Mexican composer and musical theater storyteller Jaime Lozano, the evening will celebrate the role of music as both artistic expression and social conscience."Art should be a reflection of the times, and what better way to speak up than through music and song," said Jaime Lozano, co-creator of the contest and co-founder of The Familia Org.The contest attracted participants from across generations. Entrants ranged in age from 18 to over 75 years old. Among survey respondents, more than one-third were age 65 or older, while nearly one-third were under age 45.