rules<\/a> for additional information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_zigzag][vc_column_text]\nThe finalists for 2026 are:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2631″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]\nEric Behr<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Based in Riverside, Rhode Island, Eric Behr is a seasoned singer-songwriter known for crafting “bittersweet story songs” that have earned him recognition as a finalist in the Great American Song Contest. An active leader in the local music community, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Songwriters Association (RISA) and frequently performs in regional showcases.
\nHis creative versatility also extends to the stage, where he has contributed his talents as both a musician and actor for various theatrical productions across Rhode Island.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2412″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]\nCharles Thomas Clukey<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Thomas Charles Clukey, based in Saco, Maine is a singer-songwriter and 2026 One Longfellow Square LEAF Fellow. His vocals have recently gained him recognition as one to watch in New England. This style has seen him win competitions at The Maine Songwriters Association, Wildwood and The Studio Portland. Thomas is returning to the Rose Garden for his second consecutive finals appearance. He is currently recording his debut album at Plaid Dog Recording, bridging the gap between quiet acoustic intimacy and expanding his sound to a full-band set in 2026.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2630″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]\nAllison Strong<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Hailed by the New York Times as “captivating,” Allison Strong is a versatile powerhouse whose artistic roots stretch from a family legacy of Colombian poets and storytellers to the Broadway stages of Mamma Mia!<\/em> and Bye Bye Birdie<\/em>. Beyond her theatrical success, she is an acclaimed screen actress known for her roles in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and the Netflix feature “The Week Of,” alongside Adam Sandler. As an award-winning songwriter and a New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellow, she has opened for Grammy winners and is set to release her bilingual record, “Weightless,” this summer.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2413″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]\nDan Cloutier<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Dan Cloutier is a singer-songwriter based in New England who has spent the past two years working on an album called “The Iceberg.” This is an album and an adventure, and the project took him to both Greenland, and Newfoundland to record music and make videos for his YouTube page. The music is all about finding hope during dark seasons of life, and it will be officially out on 5\/2\/25.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2412″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]\nCharles Thomas Clukey<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Thomas Charles Clukey, a singer-songwriter from Saco, Maine, draws inspiration from New England’s landscapes and stories. Growing up in St. Albans, he was immersed in music through country radio, school performances, and supportive teachers. Blending Country, Roots, and Americana, Thomas creates songs that feel like intimate conversations. Influenced by modern artists like Chris Stapleton and timeless storytellers like John Denver, his lyrics capture the grit and grace of everyday life. He often explores music as a therapeutic outlet, reflecting on life’s challenges while honoring his Maine roots.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2414″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]\nCharlotte Morris<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Charlotte Morris is a Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter, whose autobiographical music weaves together a unique blend of Americana, Folk, Jazz, and more. Her soaring vocals and keen songwriting, often compared to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Liz Longley, and Eva Cassidy, create an intimate and vulnerable listening experience. When you see Charlotte live, it’s like having a deep conversation with an old friend – personal, authentic, and familiar – and almost always with a few laughs and a few tears.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] We are no longer accepting entries for our 2026 Contest See rules for additional information.\u00a0 [\/vc_column_text][vc_zigzag][vc_column_text] The finalists for 2026 are: [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2631″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text] Eric Behr [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Based in Riverside, Rhode Island, Eric Behr is a seasoned singer-songwriter known for crafting “bittersweet story songs” that have earned him recognition as a finalist in the Great American Song Contest. An active leader in the local music community, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Songwriters Association (RISA) and frequently performs in regional showcases. His creative versatility also extends to the stage, where he has contributed his talents as both a musician and actor for various theatrical productions across Rhode Island.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2412″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text] Charles Thomas Clukey [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Thomas Charles Clukey, based in Saco, Maine is a singer-songwriter and 2026 One Longfellow Square LEAF Fellow. His vocals have recently gained him recognition as one to watch in New England. This style has seen him win competitions at The Maine Songwriters Association, Wildwood and The Studio Portland. Thomas is returning to the Rose Garden for his second consecutive finals appearance. He is currently recording his debut album at Plaid Dog Recording, bridging the gap between quiet acoustic intimacy and expanding his sound to a full-band set in 2026.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2630″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text] Allison Strong [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Hailed by the New York Times as “captivating,” Allison Strong is a versatile powerhouse whose artistic roots stretch from a family legacy of Colombian poets and storytellers to the Broadway stages of Mamma Mia! and Bye Bye Birdie. Beyond her theatrical success, she is an acclaimed screen actress known for her roles in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and the Netflix feature “The Week Of,” alongside Adam Sandler. As an award-winning songwriter and a New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellow, she has opened for Grammy winners and is set to release her bilingual record, “Weightless,” this summer.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2413″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text] Dan Cloutier [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Dan Cloutier is a singer-songwriter based in New England who has spent the past two years working on an album called “The Iceberg.” This is an album and an adventure, and the project took him to both Greenland, and Newfoundland to record music and make videos for his YouTube page. The music is all about finding hope during dark seasons of life, and it will be officially out on 5\/2\/25.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2412″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text] Charles Thomas Clukey [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Thomas Charles Clukey, a singer-songwriter from Saco, Maine, draws inspiration from New England’s landscapes and stories. Growing up in St. Albans, he was immersed in music through country radio, school performances, and supportive teachers. Blending Country, Roots, and Americana, Thomas creates songs that feel like intimate conversations. Influenced by modern artists like Chris Stapleton and timeless storytellers like John Denver, his lyrics capture the grit and grace of everyday life. He often explores music as a therapeutic outlet, reflecting on life’s challenges while honoring his Maine roots.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2414″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text] Charlotte Morris [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Charlotte Morris is a Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter, whose autobiographical music weaves together a unique blend of Americana, Folk, Jazz, and more. Her soaring vocals and keen songwriting, often compared to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Liz Longley, and Eva Cassidy, create an intimate and vulnerable listening experience. When you see Charlotte live, it’s like having a deep conversation with an old friend – personal, authentic, and familiar – and almost always with a few laughs and a few tears.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2045,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-239","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","entry","post-inner"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-26 06:12:01","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2632,"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/239\/revisions\/2632"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rosegardenfolk.com\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}