"If I could only say one thing to describe the Durango Expo experience, it would be this. After being a professional writer for almost 20 years, it unfortunately gets harder and harder to be impressed by music in general. But at each Durango event I’ve attended, I had specific moments of listening to Artist showcases & Pro/Legends Writers rounds that gave me this old familiar feeling in my chest and reminded me of why I wanted to be a songwriter in the very beginning. That inspiration, for me, is worth everything." --Trina Harmon, Hit Songwriter and The Artist Coach

"The song 'Tough Times' written by Scott Miller and me, both longtime DSE attendees, won first place and hit a home run in the NSAI 'Hitsville' contest in April 2011, which got us a contract for that song with 'ole.' I then did some re-writing for them, and they did a nice new demo of the song, and are currently pitching it to major label artists in Nashville...We are so grateful to the DSE playing a huge role in this process as we brought it there for feedback and critiques and played it live etc...several times! We got some really good feedback, and also made some more updates and polishing due to that feedback. We are looking forward to the fall expo, bringing more new songs also! We are both so thankful to be able to attend the DSE!!! ...You guys have such a cool event, we cant thank you enough for providing these amazing opportunities, to meet new friends and co-writers, networking, pitching, performing, learning how to work, work, work, improve, improve, improve and polish, polish, polish, rinse and repeat!!!" --Lee Johnson (Winner of WWAHM 2010-1)

CHUCK CANNON!

"Your conference is impossible to beat! It's the best one around. I wish I could be there. I want to thank you again for the opportunity to write with Glen Phillips. We finished the song and are in the middle of passing it back and forth to record it. I'm thrilled with it and so happy to have had the opportunity to sit in a room with him. He's great...And you are great for making it happen!!"—Beth Thornley

DSE Note: Beth won the Pop category in the 2011-1 WWAHM contest and a co-write with our great friend and super talent Glen Phillips from Toad The Wet Sprocket fame!

"In October of 2010 I won the Durango Write With a Hit-Maker songwriting contest in Colorado. It was an exciting phone call that I received from Jim Attebery the day I won. He informed me that out of all the great songs that were submitted, a song I wrote with my co-writer Diane Waters won ["Not Really Mine"]. I won a co write with Danny Myrick, writer of the recent hit "She's Country" by Jason Aldean, "International Harvester" by Craig Morgan, "How Far Do You Wanna Go" by Glorianna, among many many others. He is one of the most successful songwriters in Nashville...The day of the write I came in with many ideas in my head and I had my hook book and computer ready to go. Danny and I sat down to get to work and I pitched an idea that he liked. I had the idea for a while and had worked it into rough version of a song. I sang and played it for him and we ran with it. He is such a seasoned writer, doing it for years every day, words pour out of him. It was really fun to bat lines back and forth and within and hour or so we had hammered out a song called "The Ride." He recorded the vocals and guitar to a work tape. He has an incredible voice and can rock the guitar to splinters! It was a great experience to write with him. I am so grateful to him for giving me the chance to write. I am also grateful to Durango Songwriters Expo for the opportunity they have provided to me and countless other writers and artists who chase the muse." —J Morley, Niwot, CO