Virginia Highlands Songwriter's Association
Thanks to three years of success with the Richard Leigh Songwriters Festival, a unique door has been opened for songwriters in our area. Many of those who participated in the songwriting competition portion of the event have not only enjoyed up-close performances by Grammy award-winners and members of the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, they have been part of those performances’ opening acts! In response to positive feedback and nudging from participants as well as from some of our new Nashville friends, we are launching the Virginia Highlands Songwriter’s Association. This will be an association of, by, and for the people in our community who are interested both in putting more in and getting more out of the craft of songwriting.

Our members will be from different generations, with interests in a variety of genres, at all levels of experience in songwriting. The Virginia Highlands Songwriter’s Association will be your link, your advocate, your home, and your family along the way.
Songwriting is a quest. If we can make it to the end we believe we will have something we can treasure and with which we can make meaningful connections. How much closer can we get to this treasure if we dig together? How much time could we save if we get a more detailed map or more effective tools? And what about the journey itself? There’s a song in there somewhere! Will YOU join forces with us?
“... If I'm interested in what I'm doing, other people will be interested in it. ... Even if you're improvising, the fact that beforehand you know certain things will work helps you make those improvisations successful. It really helps to have a certain amount of knowledge...” – JJ Cale