The Sparks & Wiry Cries songSLAM, in partnership with Fourth Coast Ensemble, is a unique and energizing community event for composer/performer teams to premiere new art songs and compete for cash prizes. Fashioned after poetry slams and storytelling events, teams will premiere a new song of no more than 5 minutes for voice and piano and compete for $3,000 in audience-awarded cash prizes. 

Beloved Chicago composer Stacy Garrop serves as emcee for the songSLAM event on May 7th, 7pm at KOVAL Distillery Tasting Room, 4241 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL. 

Composers will be interviewed on stage prior to their team’s premiere, and the LIVE voting audience will vote on their favorite to award $2,000 in prize money as follows: 

$1,000 for first place, $600 for second place, $400 for third place

Additionally, Fourth Coast Ensemble will award a $1,000 commission prize to one composer for a new work to be premiered in 2027.

Registration for this event goes LIVE on Monday, February 19th at 5pm Central time. Make sure to have your materials ready as performance slots typically go very quickly!

Register your team HERE with the link is live on the 19th!

Read complete rules of the 2026 Chicago songSLAM HERE