On stage everyone!
With its 2nd edition, the Montreal Guitar Grand Prix has already won a faithful following! The SIMM went all out to concretely promote music making with this competition, one that is open to all aspiring guitarists, regardless of age or musical style, and offering them a priceless opportunity to appear on stage and showcase their guitar prowess! One whole weekend devoted to the guitar, a true musical happening for both musicians and a music-loving public!
Are you a guitar aficionado? Would you like others to hear your personal compositions or renditions of big hits in order to demonstrate your many talents once and for all? Nothing could be simpler: come and audition on stage before a judges’ panel made up of professionals… and a keen public! You never know. You might just find yourself ranked as one of the best musicians, who will share the stage with a big-name artist at the wind-up show featuring performances from the 12 finalists!
Incredible discoveries... and winners!
At the MGGP, everyone’s a winner! First, by benefiting from an invaluable on-stage experience and a rare opportunity to perform before an audience, meet other musicians and artisans in the wings, share their passion with other music fans, and enjoy the pride that comes from a job well-done, a challenge well-met! And second, on top of this highly instructive experience—one of the most tangible glimpses at what constitutes a good part of a musician’s career—the MGGP also offers more than $20,000 worth of superb prizes! These prizes are offered by the event presenters, Godin Guitars and Steve’s Music Store by the two official suppliers,Marshall Amplification and DigiTech Guitar Effects, and by the SIMM, the Montreal Guitar Show and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal!
It was on the stages of the Savoy du Métropolis and Club Soda, stages where many major artists have shone, that these aspiring guitar-slingers had the chance to show off their talents in this 2nd edition! Divided into four style categories, the participants scored a hit with the audience with their diverse, high-calibre performances. And the public thronged to the auditions and free final show, where they too were able to “play judge” and show their appreciation by awarding the People’s Choice Award of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal to their favourite guitarist, Lucas Haneman. Here are the names of the some of the other guitarists who won favour with the judges’ panel and the public:
Blues / rock category:
1st prize: Max Clark-Dent
2nd prize: Pascal Gaudreau
3rd prize: Denny Snyder
Jazz category (archtop or gypsy):
1st prize: Dylan Perron
2nd prize: Lucas Haneman
3nd prize: Stephen Johnston
Acoustic category(fingerstyle and fingerpicking) :
1st prize: Jean Luc Thievent
2nd prize: Lucas Haneman
3nd prize: Ryan Luxenberg
Classical category:
1st prize: Thierry Bégin
Lamontagne
2nd prize: Étienne Simard
3nd prize: Francis Brunet Turcotte
We look forward to seeing you at the next edition of the Montreal Guitar Grand Prix, to be held on September 27 and 28, 2008, as part of Quebec’s Journées de la culture! You might just be the guitarist of the up-and-coming generation! Or maybe one of those who will help discover the next guitar genius! For information and to keep on top of all the newest features of the competition, be sure to visit our website regularly. And for the heads-up on the SIM and the Montreal Guitar Show, why not subscribe to the Newsletter.
Jacques‑André Dupont
Founder and General Manager
