Wyoming Singer-Songwriters is a completely volunteer-led effort, including our Board of Directors. We are:

Jon Gardzelewski

Wyoming native and lifelong competitor, Jon founded the Laramie Singer-Songwriter Competition in 2012 as a way for him and his friends to challenge themselves to write better songs. In 2018 after the competition’s fifth year in Laramie, the competition went statewide and in the aftermath of the first state competition, Jon and John Poland founded Wyoming Singer-Songwriters with the mission of connecting and supporting songwriters across the state. His songwriting reflects his experiences as a multi-instrumentalist who grew up playing rock, jazz, and symphonic classical music. In the daytime, he’s an architect, educator, and solar installer.

Catherine Johnson

Catherine attended her first WYSS Competition in the summer of 2020 and was immediately struck by the incredible talent of the songwriters, the richness of storytelling through music, and above all—the diverse community of songwriters who came together to support and nourish one another’s craft. When she’s not grant-writing and balancing the organization’s books, she teaches in the LeaRN program at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

Sharon Martinson

Hailing from Casper, WY, Songwriter and banjo player, Sharon Martinson, has performed in six bands in the last 13 years, most recently recording 4 albums as The Littlest Birds. She was honored as Performer of the Year by the Wyoming Arts Council, having toured nationally and internationally in over 500 cities, including shows at the Vancouver Folk Festival, Beartrap Summer Music Festival and others.

Jason Newman

Jason Newman is a life long resident of Cheyenne. Father of two sons and two four-legged Mini Schnauzers. Music lover/collector after receiving his first record at the age of four. He has been in many bands through the years starting with The Destitute Dicks to Anarchy Dragon then Mr. Hanky to the illustrious Year Of The Pig. He loves the only kind of music there is. The good kind! Within his 53’ of LP’s alone you find it all from Bubble Gum Pop to Death Disco to Maria Callas to Captain Beefheart and everywhere in between. When he isn’t trying to squeeze a note out of his throat or some other instrument he is keeping the children and staff at LCSD#1 warm as a Steam Fitter.

Spencer Pelton

Spencer Pelton lives in Laramie, with his wife Hallie and dog Cashew. Spencer has been in Wyoming since 2013 but was born and raised in the southern Appalachians of east Tennessee. Spencer learned to play guitar and sing in church but found punk rock in his teens and never looked back. He’s been writing songs since 1998, and has served as the singer/songwriter for folk, modern rock, and garage bands since then. His musical tastes vary, but in his songwriting he places high value on lyricism, simplicity, and developing a solid hook. Spencer’s day job is serving as the Wyoming State Archaeologist, so if you have any questions about artifacts, he’s the guy to ask!

John Poland

John Poland is a musician based in Laramie, Wyoming. His solo show is a multi-guitar act rooted in the American Fingerstyle, American Primitive, and Blues/Rock traditions. He has recorded two EPs of original music. He is a regular act at the Pondstock festival in Trenton, NE and performs across the country at dive bars and community events alike. He performs regularly as a supporting guitarist with acts such as The Dauphin of Mississippi, Sharon Martinson, and Pluck! John is also a member of the Laramie based rock band, Bob Lefevre and The Already Gone. With this band, John has recorded and released two full length albums. Finally, John is the founder of Laramie's best and only, all acoustic Black Sabbath cover band, Acoustic Funeral.

Amy Truman

Amy Truman is a Ten Sleep local that has worked with the Wyoming Singer Songwriter Competition since landing in Ten Sleep in 2019. She assists in various capacities: organizing the finals venue; securing a yearly grant with the Washakie Visitors council; advertising assistance; and recruiting grand prize sponsors.