About the ISS

The Island Songwriter Showcase (ISS) is a Long Island-based organization of songwriters, lyricists, and performers. We get together to share and develop our passion for the art and craft of songwriting. Our goal is become better songwriters and help others do the same.

We welcome songwriters from all musical backgrounds, styles, genres, and levels of accomplishment. We welcome professionals and non-professionals. Membership is free. The ISS is self-sustaining through volunteer effort. We receive no grants or external funding. However, Five Towns College has generously provided the space for our workshops since 1994, if not longer

The ISS offers a range of opportunities from workshops, peer reviews, and competitions, to collaborations, promotions and showcases. However, it may be associating with fellow songwriters that inspires us to produce our best work.

The ISS was founded in 1990 by Rob Baranello and Todd Suprina inspired largely by the songwriting circles of the seventies. Both Rob and Sonny Speed and attended Harry Chapin’s songwriting circle and similar groups in Manhatten and wanted to see it continue. The first ISS meeting was held at what used to be called "the Village Meeting Room" at the Huntington Public Library on Main Street in January 1990.

Since then, the ISS has enjoyed, benefitted from and hopefully nourished the talents of hundreds of fine songwriters. Our mission is to develop and support songwriters and the art of songwriting.

Walter Sargent
Director
April 2010