The 2009 MLT Songwriting Awards give aspiring songwriters the chance to compare, on a national stage, their skills and abilities with others looking for a foothold in the New Zealand music industry.
Judges Jenny Cleland, Mike Moroney, John Egenus and Craig Allott described the calibre of talent as incredible.
In a joint statement this month, they said some of the songs this year were among the best they had ever received.
There were intense discussions to bring 80 songs down to 19, then select the top 10, they said.
Two Gore songwriters are among the 10 finalists, with Tomorrow, by Neil Richardson, and A Fair, by Lisa Parish competing for top award.
Former Gore resident and Queenstown-based songwriter Andrea Cruickshank's song Patsy and Me is also in the competition, along with Sometime Lover by Libby Hamilton, from Dunedin, and The Wind From Antartica by Arrowtown's Nicola Lindsay.
Four of the other five finalists come from Auckland and Greytown songwriter Barry Saunders, best known as the lead singer for The Warratahs, is also in the mix.
New Zealand Songwriting Trust trustee Mike Hood said the judges are looking for simple melody, focused lyrics, attention to detail and originality of the song.
"The MLT Songwriting Awards are going from strength to strength and are highly regarded within the industry as an important platform to get your songwriting recognised," Mr Hood said.
In doing so, songwriters were provided with the affirmation to take their songwriting to the next level, he said.
The trust is also staging a songwriting seminar alongside the awards, for artists who want to gain instruction from some of the best songwriters in the country.
This will be held in Gore on Thursday, May 28.
It will include workshops and seminars on songwriting development, Mr Hood said.
The awards will be presented that night at the Longford Function Centre in Gore, right in the middle of Gold Guitars Week in the Eastern Southland capital.
