On Wednesday night at the University of Miami's Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, student songwriters shared a sense of nervousness and excitement as they performed their original music at the Songwriter's Showcase, an event for students to compete for a chance to open at Grammy-award winning musician Bruce Hornsby's concert.

Students in the Creative American Music Program, founded in March by Bruce Hornsby, a Grammy award-winning songwriter, performer and UM alumnus, hope to play alongside Hornsby at his Festival Miami performance Thursday.