Strathmore announced the nine finalists for the 10th annual Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, and two of the Youth Category finalists are not far from Baltimore. The competition honors outstanding composers and lyricists from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Erin Leberknight is a 12th-grade singer-songwriter from Ellicott City who plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in musical theater. Saanvi Purohit, a ninth-grader from Clarksburg, Maryland, is just 14 years old. She is also a singer-songwriter.
Leberknight blends folk and pop music in her writing, creating piano-centered pieces rooted in story-telling. She cites Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, and Bob Dylan as inspirations and influences. Leberknight was a 2023 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Award Youth Finalist as well, and plans to release an EP.
Purohit mixes pop influences with emotionally deep lyrics, and plays piano, guitar, and ukulele. She has been singing since she was a toddler, and released her first single, “Did You Know?” when she was in middle school. Now, she has released the song “Fourteen”, before she has yet to turn 15.
The awards were established to honor famed Broadway lyricist, Fred Ebb, by his niece, Cathy Bernard in 2015. The awards highlight local songwriting talent through this annual competition and culminating showcase. Ebb was part of an iconic musical partnership with John Kander, and the two created some of Broadway’s most enduring work. “Cabaret,” “Chicago,” and the song “New York, New York” are just a small sample of their catalogue. Ebb won three Tony Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award.
The other finalists in the 2026 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards range from established artists who have opened for Grammy winners and people who have performed with jazz legends to a Washington, D.C. teenager who is a multi-instrumentalist writing from a place of curiosity and joy.
“This milestone year brings together some of the most compelling voices from Silver Spring to Charlottesville,” said Joi Brown, artistic director and vice president of programming at Strathmore. “These nine finalists represent what makes the DMV special: authentic storytelling, musical diversity, and artists who pour their hearts into their craft. We invite the community to witness their artistry firsthand.”
There were five other finalists from Maryland, including Laura Brino from Arnold and Marissa Zechinato from Brooklyn Park. Brino is an indie folk-pop singer-songwriter who has been writing songs for 25 years. She has released six albums and performed for audiences nationwide and was a 2025 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Award Adult Finalist.
Zechinato writes jazz-inspired music mixing soul, pop, and experimental vocals with piano and hand percussion. She graduated from Howard University as a jazz vocal student and has performed at the Kennedy Center, for NPR’s Tiny Desk, and around the country.
She-unO is a rapper and songwriter from Silver Spring who has been writing music since fifth grade. His music blends rap, R&B, and soul, and he has released multiple projects over the last ten years. His latest, “(T)here”, was released in 2025. He has opened for Mali Music, Ndelible, and Lecrae.
Integriti Reeves hails from Upper Marlboro. Another finalist who graduated from Howard University’s jazz program, Reeves is a singer-songwriter blending jazz, Brazilian, and folk musical influences with narrative storytelling. She was a 2025 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Award Adult Finalist.
Sam McCormally is from Mount Ranier, and his six-piece ensemble, Sam McCormally and the Plan is a fixture on the D.C. music scene/ His music blends rock ‘n’ roll, folk, and R&B. His 30 years of writing songs demonstrates diverse influences, but a focus on connection, culture, and community.
Finalists outside of Maryland include Erynn McLeod in the adult category from Charlottesville, Virginia and Nate Stern in the youth category, the aforementioned Washington, D.C. high school senior who has been writing songs since elementary school.
The finalists will showcase their original compositions at the 10th Anniversary Finalists Concert & Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. Adult finalists will perform two songs and youth finalists will perform one. There will be live feedback from the industry judges and announcement of the winners.
The adult category winner receives a grand prize of $10,000, 25 hours of recording studio time, and two hours of music business strategy consulting. Second place winner receives $2,500, and all other adult finalists receive $1,000. Top finalist in the youth category will receive $2,500 and other youth finalists will receive $500.
Tickets for the Bernard/Ebb Songwriting 10th Anniversary Finalists Concert & Awards Ceremony are available now.
