The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) has announced the 2025 winners of the Dottie Burman and John Wallowitch songwriting awards. Each recipient receives $500.
The Dottie Burman Award winner is David Brian Colbert. The Burman Award finalists were David Brian Colbert, Kip Dennis, Beth Falcone, and Steve Sieck. The John Wallowitch Award winner is Brando(n) James Gwinn. The Wallowitch Award finalists were Brando(n) James Gwinn, Priya Roy, and Simon Scheuer.
John Wallowitch and Dottie Burman were beloved songwriters in the cabaret community. When Dottie Burman passed away, her estate bequeathed $5,000 dollars to MAC to set up a songwriting competition in her name that would award a cash prize to songwriters aged 40 and over who have not yet received recognition for their writing talents. The MAC Board passed a motion to create a matching award in John Wallowitch’s name to honor songwriters under 40.
The Burman Award Committee was chaired by Natasha Castillo with committee members Aron Bederson, Kati Neiheisel, Lee-Ann Piekos, Debi Toni, and Gregory Toroian who narrowed the entries down to the four finalists.
The Wallowitch Award Committee was chaired by Natasha Castillo with committee members Vicki Burns, Jason Ellis, Evelyn Sullivan, and Bill Zeffiro who narrowed the entries down to the three finalists. Klea Blackhurst was the Celebrity Judge who selected the winner from the finalists for The Burman Award. Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer was the Celebrity Judge who selected the winner from the finalists for The Wallowitch Award.
For more information, visit MACnyc.com
