"It was a pleasure to support and be on the panel for the inaugural year of the Stortford Young Songwriters Competition.
"I’m so grateful to have grown up in Bishop’s Stortford and for the creative opportunities it offered me, in my formative early years, finding my voice as a singer-songwriter.
"This is a wonderful platform and opportunity for the young songwriters of Stortford and I was enamoured by the originality of many of the entries. These are some unique, precious musicians and wordsmiths to be nurtured, supported and celebrated. It is so important to explore artistic boundaries at this, and maybe every, age. I applaud the submissions already discovering their own style and sound.
"Huge congratulations and thank you to all the participants for their contributions and courage in offering their creativity. Songwriting can be a wonderfully cathartic and personal endeavour, which takes a great deal of vulnerability and resilience to share with others, and I hope nothing ever stops them channeling their voice and personality into their work. It was a joy listening."
