JEAN-FRANÇOIS HAMEL – president of the judges' panel
Jean-François Hamel shares his time between the stage, teaching, composing, arranging and studio sessions. He studied at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec where in 1996 he was awarded the Prix d'interprétation in classical guitar. He then began a Bachelors in Jazz at l'Université Laval, before completing a four year run of overseas contracts in Asia, during which he performed more than a 1000 shows. He recently published a cycle of three concert studies for classical guitar and is presently busy recording and co-producing different projects in country/folk, indie rock, soul, hip-hop, R&B and world music.
JÉRÔME DUCHARME (CLASSICAL)
Jérôme Ducharme has won many prizes for his guitar playing, including one of the most prestigious in the world - the first prize at the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, making him the only Canadian to ever win this contest. He has performed recitals and master-classes throughout North America. His professional experience includes a well-received first CD, participation in a production of the Opéra of Montreal, chamber music, modern music composition, competition adjudication and concerto performances with orchestra. He is currently completing his doctorate at the Université de Montréal.
PAUL DESLAURIERS (BLUES / ROCK)
With nearly two decades of experience in the music industry, five albums under his belt, and a list of fans that extends into Europe and the US, this singer/songwriter has become one of the best-known guitarists in Quebec and Canada. Winner of a Lys Blues Award for Best Musical Performance in 2005, he continues to be nominated for enviable awards. Paul's 2006 solo release Ripping Into Red garnered rave reviews in the April 2007 issue of Guitar Player Magazine. Paul is also known as a founding member of the 90s band Black Cat Bone, as well as for his work with Dawn Tyler Watson.
JASON LANG (ACOUSTICAL)
Son of Canadian folk music legend Penny Lang and the late renowned American folk singer Dave Van Ronk, Jason's has succeeded in developing his own style, rooted in folk and pop traditions. He has worked with many established artists, from Roch Voisine to Isabelle Boulay, France D'Amour, the McGarrigle sisters, Amanda Marshall, Richard Séguin and Denise Murray - which whom he often reaches the top of the Canadian country charts. He has produced seven albums, and won three Felix awards.
JORDAN OFFICER (JAZZ)
Being both arranger, producer and guitar player with Susie Arioli, Jordan Officer will finally release his first album in early 2009. This guitar virtuoso will then hit the road, showing his first opus material influenced by jazz, blues and country music. After a sold out performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2007, Mister Officer repeated the experience in 2008. Far from deja-vu, Jordan Officer is known as an uncomparable guitar player, with a very unique style that will lead him to international recognition.
DANIEL LEMAY
A journalist with La Presse since 1982, Daniel Lemay worked at the Sports desk and was a radio and television columnist before being appointed division head, Arts & Spectacles, a position he held until the turn of the century. A jazz and blues lover, hence a guitar lover, he has participated in various capacities in covering some 20 editions of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Daniel Lemay is the only non-musician on the judges' panel, but a big guitar fan!