The Pegasus Award is the premier award for filk music and is annually hosted at the Ohio Valley Filk Fest (OVFF).
Awards The Pegasus Awards were founded to recognize and honor excellence in filking. As science fiction (sci-fi) became better known and widespread within society in the 20th century as a distinct literary genre, many fans expressed themselves through works of music and art, including filking. The Pegasus Awards formally recognise filking or fan music as a fine lens that the sci-fi community shares with particular fiction-based cultural ideas.
Anyone with an interest in filk can nominate songs or individuals for the awards, and anyone can vote. It is not necessary to be a member of the convention to be involved in the nomination and voting process.
Currently awards are given in six categories: Best Song, Best Performer, Best Writer/Composer, Best Classic Song and two topical categories that vary from year to year. Some examples of past categories include: Best Love Song, Best Literature Song, Best Techie Song, Best Sing Along, etc.
The OVFF convention committee solicits nominations for finalists for the Pegasus Awards (the Nominating Ballot) during the late spring and summer. There is an opinion poll that runs during the year as well to help interested folk brainstorm ideas for the nominating ballot. The finalist ballot is distributed in the early fall, and must be returned by the opening night of OVFF. Voting can be done online—either to nominate finalists, or to vote for the finalists themselves. The final round of voting happens at OVFF itself, where handwritten ballots are collected after the annual Pegasus concert. The entire process is administered by the OVFF convention committee.Pegasus Awards site
Ohio Valley Filk Fest
The Ohio Valley Filk Fest, (OVFF) is one of the largest filk music conventions.Kare, Jordin. "Filk Music?" Sing Out! 1995, reproduced at Interfilk website accessed July 12, 2010] It is held annually in October in the Columbus, Ohio area, and the culmination of the event is the presentation of the Pegasus Award.Lucas, Barbara Lynn. "Music: Twentieth Century" in Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy: Volume 1, Overviews (Robin Anne Reid, ed.) Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing, 2009; p. 156
The first OVFF was held in 1984 in Cincinnati and was attended by about 80 people; it included the presentation of the first Pegasus Awards. After skipping 1985, it moved to the Columbus area but retained "Ohio Valley" in its name. The convention has been held every year since then, in various locations in Columbus. Recent conventions had been held in Dublin, Ohio, but as of 2010 the convention has moved to Worthington.
Lists of award winners * Ties and joint winners
Best Performer
Year Performer Notes 2025 The Blibbering Humdingers Duo 2024 Dave Clement 2023 Summer Russell 2022 Jen Midkiff 2021 The Faithful Sidekicks Band 2021 Rhiannon's Lark 2020 Margaret Davis and Kristoph Klover Duo 2019 Playing Rapunzel Duo 2018 Random Fractions Band 2018 Twotonic Duo 2017 2016 Play It With Moxie Band 2015 2014 Cheshire Moon Band 2013 2012 2012 Wild Mercy Band 2011 2010 2009 & Ben Deschamps 2008 Vixy & Tony Band 2007 2007 2006 2005 2004 Urban Tapestry Band 2003 Dandelion Wine Band 2002 Three Weird Sisters Band 2001 2000 Ookla the Mok Band 1999 1998 1997 Urban Tapestry Band 1996 1995 (Moonwulf) 1994 Band 1993 1992 (Moonwulf) 1991 1990 1989 Technical Difficulties Band 1988 1987 1986 As "Best Female Filker" 1986 As "Best Male Filker" 1984 As "Best Female Filker" 1984 As "Best Male Filker"
Best Writer/Composer
Year Writer/Composer 2025 Eric Distad 2024 Cathy McManamon 2023 Lauren Oxford 2022 Cecilia Eng 2021 Lawrence Dean 2020 Andrew Ross 2019 Eva Van Daele-Hunt 2018 Leslie Hudson 2017 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2012 2011 2010 Heather Dale 2009 Vixy & Tony 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 & Adam English 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987
Song awards
Best Filk Song
Year Song Creator(s) 2025 One Small Boat Marilisa Valtazanou 2024 I am I Eva Van Daele-Hunt 2023 Following Our Dreams Lawrence Dean 2022 The Entwife Summer Russell 2021 Second-Hand Heaven Lawrence Dean 2020 Child of the Library Piers & Gill Cawley 2020 Mordred's Lullaby Heather Dale 2019 Lucy on the Line Tim Griffin 2018 Pageant Legend Katy Dröge-Macdonald & Ju Honisch 2017 We Are Who We Are & Tony Fabris 2016 Creatures of Dream 2015 My Story Is Not Done 2014 Paper Worlds 2014 Snow White, Red Road Cheshire Moon 2013 Joan Heather Dale & Ben Deschamps 2012 Cheshire Kitten 2011 Wicked Girls 2010 & Katy Dröge-Macdonald 2009 2008 Uplift 2007 Rich Fantasy Lives & Tom Smith 2006 2005 Rocket Ride 2004 2003 Shooting Star (Moonwulf) 2002 Velvet 2001 Strangers No More 2000 Sam's Song & Soren Nyrond 1999 1998 When I Was A Boy 1997 Road to Roswell & Lloyd Landa 1996 When Giants Walked 1995 Journey's Done 1994 Drink Up The River 1994 PQR (You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet) 1993 & Mark Bernstein 1992 God Lives on Terra 1991 1990 Lullabye For a Weary World 1989 Dawson's Christian 1989 Arafel's Song (music) & Mercedes Lackey (lyrics) 1988 Wind From Rainbow's End 1987 Harbors 1986 Witnesses' Waltz 1984 Hope Eyrie
Best Classic Filk Song
Year Song Creator(s) 2025 Merry Meet Steve Macdonald 2024 Flowers for Algernon Kathy Mar 2023 Die Puppen (The Dolls) Eva Van Daele-Hunt 2022 Helva's Song Cecilia Eng 2021 Nessie, Come Up Dr. Jane Robinson 2020 Somebody Will Ada Palmer 2019 Ship of Stone Don Simpson 2018 Creature of the Wood Heather Alexander & Philip Obermarck 2017 Alligator in the House , Cade Tinney & S. J. Tucker 2016 Take It Back 2015 Captain Jack & the Mermaid 2014 Grandfather 2013 Second-Hand Songs 2012 Tiberius Rising & Adam English 2011 2010 Fire In The Sky 2009 Still Catch the Tide 2008 Archetype Cafe 2007 Falling Down on New Jersey 2006 I Want To Be Peter Lorre 2005 Never Set the Cat On Fire 2004 Ladyhawke! 2003 Banned From Argo
Topical categories
Year Category Song Creator(s) 2025 Best Hero Song The Ones Who Walked Away Beth Kinderman 2025 Best Villain Song The Evil Eyeball Sibylle Machat 2024 Best Magic Song Water Cathy McManamon 2024 Best Risque Song Passion Flower Cecilia Eng 2023 Best Adapted Song Come to Mordor Jeff Bonhoff 2023 Best Adapted Song Meat Kathleen Sloan 2023 Best Science Song Poisoned Apples Don Neill 2023 Best Science Song Shoulders of Giants Tim Griffin 2022 Best Furry Friend Song Underfoot Jen Midkiff 2022 Best Song that Tells a Story Nine hundred and ninety-nine Mich Sampson & Marilisa Valtazanou 2021 Best Mad Science Song I Built a Time Machine Eric Distad 2021 Best Cheery-Ose Song Tiny Kraken Rhiannon's Lark 2020 Best Media Song Goodnight, Sarah Jane Talis Kimberley 2020 Best Space Song Following in Valentina's Footsteps Valerie Housden 2019 Best Family Song Golden Rule Sabine Kinder 2019 Best Sing-Along Song Gone Filkin' Tom Jeffers 2018 Best Song About Community Many Hearts, One Voice Steve Macdonald 2018 Best Roadtrip Song Oregon Trail Tim Griffin 2018 Best Roadtrip Song Road to Santiago Heather Dale 2017 Best Horror Song Dear Gina 2017 Best Perky Song Chocolate Is A Vegetable 2016 Best Adapted Song Six Transit Genitalia Centauri 2016 Best Exploration Song Starsoul & Jodi Krangle 2015 Best Adapted Song Grabthar's Silver Hammer 2015 Best Time-Related Song Precious Moments 2014 Best Adapted Song Midichlorian Rhapsody 2014 Best Song of Passage Outward Bound 2013 Best Alien Song Little Fuzzy Animals 2013 Best Fairytale Song Dryad's Promise 2012 Best Gaming Song I Put My Low Stat 2012 Best Travel Song No Hurry 2011 Best Badass Song Evil Laugh 2011 Best Romantic Song As I Am Heather Dale 2010 Best Mad Science Song What A Woman's For 2010 Best Magic Song Where The Magic Is Real 2009 A Little Bit Country Stray Dog Man 2009 A Little Bit Rock and Roll Six-String Love Vixy & Tony 2008 Best Comedy Song Close Your Eyes 2008 Best Tragedy Song Black Davie's Ride 2007 Best Dorsai Song Shai! & Steve Macdonald 2007 Best Song of Home Emerald Green & Tony Fabris 2006 Best Battle Song March of Cambreadth 2006 Best Torch Song X-Libris 2005 Best Space Opera Song Signy Mallory & Leslie Fish 2005 Best Sword & Sorcery Song Threes & Leslie Fish 2004 Best Comic Book Song Arthur Curry & Adam English 2004 Best Tribute 2003 Best Original Humorous Song My Husband the Filker & Gretchen Roper 2003 Best Parody Knight's In White Satin 2002 Best Chilling/Spine-Tingling Song In A Gown Too Blue 2002 Best Song That Tells A Story Horsetamers Daughter 2001 Best Computer Song Tech Support 2001 Best Creature Song Least of My Kind 2000 Best End of the World Song Out Of A Clear Blue Sky 2000 Best Food/Drink Song 307 Ale 2000 Best Food/Drink Song My Jalapeño Man 1999 Best Fool Song Operation Desert Storm 1999 Best Hero Song 1998 Best Adaptation Mary O'Meara & Anne Passovoy 1998 Best Myth Song Cold Butcher 1997 Best Science Song World Inside the Crystal 1997 Best Sorcery Song & Julia Ecklar 1996 Best Eerie Song Bloodchild 1996 Best EerieSong Monster In My Head (Moonwulf) 1996 Best Spiritual Song Circles 1995 Best MilitarySong When Tenskwatawa Sings (Moonwulf) 1995 Best Sing-A-Long/Choral Song Acts of Creation 1994 Best Children's Song Monsters in the Night 1994 Best Risque Song Like A Lamb to the Slaughter 1993 Best Humorous Song Rhinotillexomania (Moonwulf) 1993 Best Space Song Lightsailor 1992 Best Genre Crossover Return of the King 1992 Best Tribute Madame Curie's Hands 1991 Best Love Song Velveteen 1991 Best War/Vengeance Song Temper of Revenge 1990 Best Fannish Song Weekend Only World 1990 Best Literature Song Daddy's Little Girl 1989 Best Fantasy Song Wind's Four Quarters & Leslie Fish 1989 Best Techie Song Do It Yourself 1988 Best Historical Song Song of the Shieldwall (as Malkin Grey) & Melissa Williamson (as Peregryn Wyndryder) 1988 Best Media Song Superman's Sex Life Boogie 1987 Best 'Ose Ian the Grim 1987 Best Schtick Unreality Warp/Kinda Mediocre, Actually & Bill Roper 1986 Best Original HumorousSong 1986 Best Parody Daddy's Little Boy 1984 Best Original Humorous Filk Song Unreality Warp 1984 Best Parody Twelve Years at Worldcon
References
Further reading "A Decade of OVFF", in The Pegasus Winners: Volume I. M.A.S.S. F.I.L.C. 1994.
External links
The Pegasus Award Winners Ohio Valley Filk Fest