CMS guitar teacher Andrew Portz recently took second place in the 17th Annual Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Contest (PHSC) with his original folk song, “Mahanoy City.” Andy says the song “grapples with the achievements and the struggles, past and present, of those who have lived in the coal regions of Pennsylvania. It is a song of celebration and empathy.”
Listen to “Mahanoy City” on YouTube
The Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Contest (PHSC) was launched in 2008 to celebrate the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its people, its places, and its history in song. It is a non-profit event intended to provide a venue for amateur songwriters in any genre to display their talent and artistry while fostering appreciation for, and study of Pennsylvania’s Heritage. The top three finalists are invited to perform their entry on the Main Stage at the Smoked Country Jam Bluegrass Festival and are awarded cash prizes and full festival passes. Andy was recognized at this year’s Smoked Country Jam Bluegrass Festival, which was held June 19–21, 2025, at Quiet Oaks Campground in Cross Forks, PA. Congratulations, Andy!