If All Rochester Wrote The Same Song is BACK!

This year’s title is “That’s Where I’ll Be”.

Submit your song before January 3, 2024 for a chance to participate in the showcase concert on May 26, 2024.

Please include an mp3 (a phone recording is fine) and your lyrics with your submission.

This year’s concert will take place at   theater!

We’d like to thank our corporate partner for sponsoring this event.

About the show

If All Rochester Wrote The Same Song is an annual songwriting challenge that was started in 2015 by Rochester musician and writer Sarah Long Hendershot. Each year a song title is released and local songwriters submit songs based on the prompt. Songs of all genres, moods and themes are encouraged with the only requirement being that the song is inspired by the title.

After the deadline closes 15 of the submitted songs are selected to be performed on stage with a house band, creating a unique showcase of the talent and creativity of this town.
This show has been a great opportunity for Rochester writers to meet, collaborate and uplift each other!

  • 300 +

    songs submitted

  • 6

    shows since 2015

  • 100 +

    songs performed

2020 - "No One Will Ever Know"

2017 - "How Did We Get Here"

2015 - "Don't Go Drinking On An Empty Heart"

2018 - "I'm A Fool For This Town"

2016 - "You'll Thank Me Later"

THE ARTIST BEHIND THE POSTERS

Lucinda Storms 

Lucinda Storms is a self described “Painter, ragpicker, flame geisha & wayward fusspot who should spend more time painting and less time with the torch.”

Follow her on Instagram

Find out more about her on her website

LAST YEAR'S SHOW

Last Year's Title: "What Did I Miss?"

Last year If All Rochester Wrote the Same Song returned after a three-year covid-induced hiatus.

Over 80 local songwriters submitted a song,  making it exceedingly difficult for our judging panel to narrow the selection to only 17 songs. The selected songwriters were invited to perform in our showcase concert. It was a vibrant celebration of the diversity and talent in the Rochester!

We are so excited to be back again this year and cannot wait to hear what people come up with for this year’s title “That’s Where I’ll Be”.

The Songwriters

Poster by Alison Cotè - Logo Design by Mike Sukhenko

The Show's Host

Last year’s show was hosted by Cinnamon Jones, an absolute staple of the Rochester music scene AND a fantastic songwriter in her own right.

The House Band

SUBMIT YOUR SONG

Be Part Of The Show—Send Us Your Song!

Record your song and email it to rochestersongs@gmail.com along with a lyric sheet. Your song does not need to be recorded in a studio, you can do it on your phone! We are looking for great songs, not great recordings.

Submissions due by September 30th, 2022 October 10th, 2022!

OUR TEAM

A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER

“Local songwriter and radio host Scott Regan was looking through fellow songwriter Jeff Riales’ notebook when he was delighted to find “Don’t Go Drinking on an Empty Heart” scrawled across the top of the page. Word of this magical title spread through the ROC music community, and over the next several years, more than 25 songwriters wrote a song by that title.

My husband Jones and I always thought an entire show of songs with the same title would be fascinating and fun, so in 2015 we dove in and had our first show at Bernunzio’s Uptown Music. It was inspiring to perform surrounded by Julie and John’s beautiful vintage instruments.

We had so much fun that first year, we decided to keep going. The concept has proven to be quite popular, and eventually we outgrew our beloved Bernunzio’s, and moved the show to the historic Hochstein Performance Hall. When Jones and I relocated to Spain in 2020, we passed the show into the capable hands of Sarah De Valliére, Steve Piper, and Kelly Izzo Shapiro. We are delighted that the tradition will continue, and interested to see the new and exciting directions they take it!

What I love most about this show is that it is a catalyst for the creation of art. Music is written based on our titles that would not have existed without the prompt. And the spectacular diversity of the songs that are created is a testament to the smart, creative, talented musicians of Rochester, NY.

Now go get writing!”

– Sarah Long Hendershot – Founder

FAQ

What is If All Rochester Wrote the Same Song?

If All Rochester Wrote the Same Song is an annual songwriting challenge and concert. A title is released and Rochester area songwriters are invited to write a song based on that year’s theme (title). Then an anonymous panel of judges will choose the top 15 songs to be performed in concert.

How do I submit my song?

Please send an mp3 of your song and your lyrics to rochestersongs@gmail.com. Your recording does not need to be professional quality.

Do I have to sing my song?

No, feel free to have someone else sing your song.

What are the details for this year's show?

This year’s concert will take place at The Little on May 26, 2024 at 4 pm.

Do I have to write the song by myself?

No! We encourage collaboration. If you have a songwriting partner, or friend that you want to co-write with please do.

I submitted my song! Now what?

Our submissions close on January 3, 2024. After that our judges will listen to all the songs and select 15 for the showcase. We will contact everyone who submitted once the 15 songs are chosen.

CONTACT US

Questions? Write to us and someone from the team will get back to you ASAP!

FAQ

What is If All Rochester Wrote the Same Song?

If All of Rochester Wrote the Same Song is an annual songwriting challenge and concert. A title is released in spring and Rochester area songwriters are encouraged to write a song on that year’s theme. Then an anonymous panel of judges will chose the top 15 songs to be performed in concert at the JCC.

When and Where is this year's concert?

This year’s concert will be held on March 12, 2023 at 4 pm at JCC Centerstage.

When are submissions due?

Submissions will be due on September 30, 2022 October 10, 2022

What is this year's title?

This year’s title is “What did I miss?”.

How do I submit my song?

Record your song and email it to rochestersongs@gmail.com along with a lyric sheet. Your song does not need to be recorded in a studio, you can do it on your phone! We are looking for great songs, not great recordings. Simple is fine. And yes, you may submit multiple songs!

Hmm...I have more questions...

No problem! Contact us and we will respond to you ASAP (usually in 2 business days).