Sisters songstress earns songwriting honors

Katie Cavanaugh won honors for her original folk songs in the Central Oregon Songwriters Association (COSA) annual Song of the Year competition held on March 12 in Bend.

Cavanaugh was awarded first and second place in the Folk Song category.

She said, “What an awesome acknowledgment of my work, and to receive awards for two of my compositions is hard to describe.

“I am thrilled!”

Cavanaugh has been a performing singer/songwriter for over 30 years. She is a two-time finalist in the Sisters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest.

The first-place Folk Song award was given to Cavanaugh’s song titled “Isabella.”

“I wrote this piece when our fellow musician Dave Carter passed away,” she said. “The content of ‘Isabella’ broaches the subject of death, but really speaks of not missing the opportunity for relationships.”

The second-place Folk Song is titled “No More War.”

“This song is a glimpse back in history to world War II, Vietnam and this present war,” Cavanaugh said.

“As a contemporary folk songwriter I’m compelled to attempt to capture life experiences in song to be passed down through generations.”

Katie and her husband Doug Cavanaugh perform throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Katie’s solo CD “Shifting Sands” is scheduled for release this May.