Tri-City singer-songwriter wins Creation Northwest music tournament

For Evan Egerer, earning a spot in Creation Northwest’s music tournament was thrilling in itself.

The 28-year-old, who teaches third grade at Franklin STEM Elementary School in Pasco, beat out dozens of other acts from around the country to earn his 25-minute slot.

And Creation Festival is a big deal — the large Christian music festival draws big-name acts and thousands of people.

So, after Egerer’s performance on the Fringe stage the morning of Aug. 5, he was feeling good. Feeling happy.

Then the next day, he and the other acts in the tournament gathered to hear the winner’s name announced.

And it was his name.

“It was insane,” Egerer told the Herald. “I got to go backstage with my family. I played the main stage on closing night, which was crazy. I got to hang out with some amazing bands.”

And now he’ll compete against the winners of the music tournaments at Creation Northeast and Sonshine Festival for a chance to play on the main stage at all three events next year.

Even if he doesn’t win that prize, he’ll still gain exposure and contacts in the music industry.

“This is the biggest opportunity I’ve had,” he said.

Creation Festival ran Aug. 4-6 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick.

Headliners included Newsboys, For King & Country, Family Force 5 and Crowder.

Egerer took the stage at 10:10 a.m. Aug. 5. He played a set filled with original songs, winning over the crowd and judges.

Performers in the tournament were evaluated on their music, audience reaction and also how they conducted themselves and treated people.

After Egerer left the stage, he “had a fantastic feeling,” he said. But, the next morning he woke up convinced that he had lost.

“I knew it deep down inside, and I made peace with it,” he said.

When he and the other tournament musicians gathered to learn who won, he was prepared to hear someone else’s name.

And, at first, he did — at least in his own head. The announcer stumbled when saying “Egerer,” and the 28-year-old thought a different act had walked away triumphant.

But people started looking at him and congratulating him. It dawned on him that he won.

From there, it was a whirlwind.

He performed that evening on the main stage.

“I’ve never had a rush like that,” he said.

People were cheering him on. They clapped along to his rollicking Sinner. And he closed his set with the poignant Valleys, about facing obstacles.

It was the biggest crowd he’s ever played for and a moment he won’t forget, he said.

Egerer and his wife Heather moved to the Tri-Cities after graduating from Seattle Pacific University in 2010.

They have two young children, Avery and Micah.

Egerer doesn’t yet know when he’ll compete against the other tournament winners for the festival circuit prize. He’s staying tuned.

Meanwhile, he has other gigs lined up, including opening for Crowder in Seattle in October.

It’s an exciting time. “You can’t see me right now,” Egerer told the Herald by phone, “but I’m smiling from ear to ear.”

To stay up to date on Egerer’s music, go to evan-egerer.com.

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Tri-City singer-songwriter wins Creation Northwest music tournament."