Welcome to the third edition of the Montreal Guitar Grand Prix! This year again, the SIMM is launching a contest for Quebec and Canadian guitarists, whether guitar students enrolled in CEGEP, university and music conservatory programs or "Sunday guitarists". A unique opportunity to take the stage and show their prowess with the guitar!

Are you a guitar lover? Interested in having as many people as possible hear your compositions or your interpretations of major hits? Do you have a desire to show off your special talents once and for all? Then be sure to join the candidates who will audition on stage before an audience and a panel of judges made up of professionals!

Now, it is the opportunity for music students and self-taught musicians to perform before an audience, to meet other musicians and artisans backstage and to share their passion with other guitar lovers. All in all, a highly formative experience which proves itself beneficial for those participating in the contest.

The participants will choose the instrument of their choice in one of the following categories:

• Classical
• Acoustic (fingerstyle,fingerpicking and flatpicking)
• Jazz (archtop ou gypsy)
• Blues/rock

In addition to gaining access to a rare showcase for young musicians and to the sheer pleasure of participating in an event devoted solely to music making, the participants stand a chance of winning valuable prizes.

From my own experience alongside the young musicians in this new generation, whether at the Blues Camp or among the tens of thousands of aficionados who have visited the SIMM and the Montreal Guitar Show this year, I can assure you that Quebec's musical future lies in good hands! It therefore gives me great pleasure to invite you to join me in discovering the most promising talents around, at this rare opportunity to see and hear our Quebec musicians on stage, free of charge. Be among the first to discover them by attending their auditions on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 at the Savoy (Metropolis), as well as the finals at the Club Soda during the free show featuring a big-name guitarist, on Sunday, September 28 beginning at 8 p.m.

In closing, I wish to thank our partners Godin Guitars and Steve's Music Store, the event's official presenters, to our official suppliers, Marshall Amplification, DigiTech Guitar Effects and Samson, Couleur Jazz, our official promotional partner and to the SIMM, the Montreal Guitar Show and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

Jacques-André Dupont

Founder and General Manager