The Montreal Guitar Grand Prix (MGGP) is organized by L’Équipe Spectra, also the organizer of the Montreal Guitar Show and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

The offices of the Montreal Guitar Grand Prix, a non-profit event, are located at:
400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West – 9th Floor
Montreal, Quebec
Canada
H3A 1L4

The MGGP will take place on October 1, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on October 2, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Savoy in the Métropolis located at 59 Ste. Catherine Street East, Montreal.

Introduction

The Montreal Guitar Grand Prix offers an ideal showcase to talented Canada’s guitarists of different music styles: classical, blues/rock, acoustic (fingerstyle, fingerpicking and flatpicking) jazz (archtop and gypsy). Major prizes will be awarded at this event in each category.

Contest procedures

You will have to register on montrealguitargrandprix.com (limited places). Afterwards, you will have to pay the registration fees at admission.com.

The registration and fees need to be completed by September 28, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

You will need to present your Admission ticket as proof of payment at the audition.

Indicate the category (-ies) in which you wish to compete. You may register in a maximum of two (2) different categories (clearly indicate your 2 choices).

The preliminary auditions:
Will take place over two days at the Savoy in the Métropolis before a public audience. The participants will be distributed over the two days of auditions and will have to perform a piece of their choice (either a composition of their own or an interpretation of another piece) before a Judges’ Panel.

The final auditions will be held before an audience at L’Astral Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan on October 2nd, beginning at 8:00 p.m. The three finalists selected in each category during the preliminary auditions will compete in the final auditions. The candidates chosen for the finals will have to play a piece of their choice (either a composition of their own or an interpretation of another piece) before the Judges’ Panel. The participants will be informed of the order in which they are to appear on the actual day of the final auditions. The candidates selected for the final auditions will be notified by phone.

Dates to remember

Registration period: June 10 to September 28, 2011, before 5:00 p.m.

Preliminary auditions: October 1, 2011, between 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m and October 2, 2011, between 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Final auditions: October 2, 2011, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at L’Astral, followed by the awards ceremony.

Rules

Registration

1. The Contest is open to Canadian citizens and landed immigrants or permanent residents (include a copy of your permanent residence card, if applicable).
2. Age requirements
   Open for everyone.
3. Style categories
   Candidates may register simultaneously in two style categories: classical, blues/rock, acoustic (fingerstyle, fingerpicking and flatpicking) and jazz (archtop and gypsy). Participants will thus be able to choose the instrument they wish to play in the style category they will have chosen.
4. Any questions not covered in these rules will be referred to the General Manager of the MGGP. The decisions made by the General Manager and/or by the Judges’Panels during the different parts of the Contest will be final and without appeal.
5. Deadline
   You will have to register on montrealguitargrandprix.com (limited places). Then, you will have to pay the registration fees at admission.com before September 28, 2011, at 5:00 p.m.
6. Registration form
   The registration form must be duly completed and the information provided must be truthful and accurate.
7. Registration fee
   1. The CAN $25 (taxes and fees included) registration fee is non-refundable, without exception.
   2. The registration fees are applicable to registration in one or two of the Contest categories.

Contest procedures

1. The competition involves four categories:
   1. blues/rock
   2. classical
   3. acoustic (fingerstyle, fingerpicking and flatpicking)
   4. jazz (archtop or gypsy)
2. Only one piece may be performed for each category (a candidate may register in a maximum of two categories).
3. The pieces performed can be different for each of the two categories in which a candidate may choose to compete.
4. Candidates selected for final auditions will be able to perform a different piece than that performed for the preliminary audition.
5. Each piece must take a maximum of six (6) minutes, in both the preliminary and final auditions.
6. Repeats are allowed on condition that the maximum time limit is respected.
7. Time limit
   Candidates must ensure that the time they take to perform their piece does not exceed the time limit allowed. They must be stopped if their performance exceeds the limit.
8. Accompaniment
   All pieces must be played solo and from memory. Only a CD accompaniment (in MP-3 or Wave format) is allowed (no partner or accompanist, etc.). Please note that the original version of a piece on a CD is not accepted as an accompaniment.
9. The results and comments of the Judges’Panel will be given verbally to each candidate after his or her audition during the preliminary auditions.
10. The preliminary auditions will take place before a public audience at the Savoy in the Métropolis, located at 59 Ste. Catherine Street East, Montreal, on October 1st from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and October 2nd, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
11. The final auditions will take place before a public audience at L’Astral on October 2nd, 2011, at 8:00 p.m..
12. The order in which the preliminary auditions will take place will be defined by the Organizer. Candidates will be notified of the date and time of their audition a few days prior to the event.
13. Candidates must make themselves available for the auditions on October 1st and 2nd, 2011. Any candidates called for a final audition must make themselves available on the evening of October 2nd, 2011.
14. The order in which the final auditions will take place will be determined by means of a random draw carried out by the Organizer.
15. Results
    1. The Judges’Panel will select three finalists in each category. These finalists will have to perform on Sunday evening at the final audition gala.
    2. The finalists will be informed of their status no later than one hour after the end of the performances in their category. They will have to be reachable by phone (or be present in the performance hall when the finalists’ names are announced) and have to be at the L’Astral at 5:00 p.m. on October 2nd. Any finalist who cannot be reached will be eliminated.
    3. Only one grand prizewinner per category will be selected.
16. Selection criteria
    The finalists and winners will be selected on the basis of their choice of piece, the quality of their technique, their virtuosity, the originality of their performance and the quality of their interpretation. Moreover, bonus points will be awarded if the performance includes an improvised portion (acoustic, jazz or blues/rock categories only) or if the piece presented is a personal arrangement of an existing work or a personal composition (all categories). See the evaluation checklist.
    Honourable mention will be awarded to the best composition (all categories) presented by a participant in the competition. It will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
    • Its aesthetic and structural quality
    • Its originality
    • How well it is performed
17. The Judges' Panels
    1. The Judges' Panel for the preliminary auditions must be made up of members of: professional musicians, teaching staff of accredited institutions, staff members of recognized companies in the music industry (retailers, manufacturers or distributors) and/or members of the organizing staff.
    2. The Judges' Panel for the finals must be made up of members of: professional musicians, teaching staff of accredited institutions, staff members of recognized companies in the music industry (retailers, manufacturers or distributors), and/or members of the media and the organizing staff.
18. Technical details
    1. For electric guitars, a maximum of three effects (pedals) will be allowed.
    2. For electric guitars, participants will have the choice of using their own amplifier or one provided by the Organizer.
    3. For classical and acoustic guitars, amplification will be done through the use of a microphone or a direct hook-up to the console (available on site).
    4. The effects and amplifiers supplied by the participants must be handed over to the Organizer upon arrival with the controls adjusted.
       • For electric guitar effects, the pedals should already be fastened and hooked up to a pedalboard.
    5. Guitars must be tuned before going up on stage.
19. Punctuality
    Candidates must be present in the performance hall at beginning to the audition time according to their category.
20. Expenses
    Candidates are solely responsible for all their own travel and lodging expenses.
21. Instruments
    Candidates must bring their own guitar(s) for their auditions and remain solely responsible for their instruments.
22. Audio recordings
    The final auditions will be recorded and a CD copy of the recording will be given to each finalist. The CDs will be sent to them in the weeks following the competition.
23. Any candidate who fails to abide by the Contest rules may be disqualified.
24. Any registration form found to contain false or inaccurate information may result in the candidate's disqualification.
25. The Organizer reserves the exclusive right to record, photograph or disseminate any and all stages in the competition in any manner whatsoever.
26. The fact of participating in the MGGP implies the full and clear adherence to these rules, the waiver of all rights and recourse in respect of the audition procedures, their results and the awarding of prizes, and in respect of any physical or material damage sustained by the candidate either during the auditions or when travelling to said auditions.
27. Participants in the MGGP agree that the Montreal Guitar Show (MGS) and its partners shall send them information.
28. The winners of a first prize are not allowed to participate in any future Montreal Guitar Grand Prix competitions.