Montreal Guitar Grand Prix Looks for the Best Young Guitarists in Quebec

Press release
Source: Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

The Montreal Musician and Musical Instrument Show (MMMIS) now continues into the fall with Montreal’s Guitar Grand Prix, to be held on September 29 and 30, and Sunday, October 1! Presented by Godin Guitars in collaboration with Steve’s Music Store, this contest targets all young guitarists in Quebec between the ages of 18 and 29. Approximately 200 selected applicants will have on-stage auditions before a judges’ panel made up of professionals… and a public audience! We will also have the chance to discover the best musicians at the audition finals, which will be followed by a free show featuring the eight-string guitar virtuoso, Charlie Hunter, and during the first part, Rob Lutes and Rob MacDonald, whom we saw this summer at the MMMIS. The public is invited to come out in full force to encourage the upcoming generation of young musicians, who will be taking advantage of this ideal opportunity to showcase their talents.

Registering couldn’t be easier: simply visit the website www.montrealguitargrandprix.com, before 5:00 p.m. on September 28, 2006, for automatic pre-selection in the category of your choice. Places are limited, and it’s first come, first served, so be sure to act fast!

Montreal’s Guitar Grand Prix contest will be divided into four categories: electric guitar, nylon string guitar (classical), jazz guitar (archtop and Gypsy), and acoustic guitar. A grand prizewinner will be chosen in each category and will be awarded a superb Godin guitar. In addition, as a gesture of concrete, free support for promising young musicians, each winner will be granted a one-year loan of a guitar from the Ste-Cat permanent collection, an instrument collection specially created for the MMMIS by the best luthiers who participated in the Show. In total, several thousand dollars’ worth of prizes awarded by Godin Guitars, Steve’s Music Store, and our two official suppliers, Marshall Amplification and DigiTech Guitar Effects, together with the MMMIS and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

The on-stage auditions before the public will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 29 and 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Sunday, October 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All candidates will have from 3 to 6 minutes to impress the judges’ panel and the audience with the music of their choice, be it interpretations of their favourite pieces or their own compositions. All music styles are welcome, from rock to classical, including jazz, blues, world music and traditional music. The audition finals, followed by a free show, will start at 8 p.m. on closing day at Théâtre Outremont. This show will give the audience a chance to discover the virtuosity of Charlie Hunter, and during the first part, the talented Rob Lutes and Rob MacDonald.

The MMMIS, presented in collaboration with General Motors of Canada during the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, is proud to launch Montreal’s Guitar Grand Prix, in the context of the 10th anniversary of Quebec’s Journées de la culture, and to offer our young talented musicians a platform for developing and publicizing their art. Like the Blues Camp and the assistance offered by the MMMIS to the Young Musicians of the World organization, this event reflects the MMMIS philosophy of promoting music making among youth and of lending a helping hand to our young musicians by giving them an on-stage experience and encouraging higher-level music education.

Website : www.montrealguitargrandprix.com