2007 Montreal Guitar Grand Prix

Press release
Source: Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Music lovers of all tastes now have the chance to see their MMMIS continue into fall with the Montreal Guitar Grand Prix (MGGP)! With the second edition of this guitar competition, to be held on September 29 and 30 at the Savoy du Métropolis then at Club Soda, the Montreal Musician and Musical Instrument Show pursues its mission of promoting music making among the public. It has therefore chosen to open the competition to all guitarists, regardless of their skill level or age. What’s more, this year the MGGP, presented by Godin Guitars in collaboration with Steve’s Music Store and Couleur Jazz, is offering brand-new categories that will give participants greater flexibility. Registration is required at ticketpro.ca, before September 28 at 5:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend in large numbers to encourage the new generation, while enjoying a free show starring a guest performer.

The four audition categories in the Montreal Guitar Grand Prix are as follows:

• classical
• acoustic (fingerstyle and fingerpicking)
• jazz (archtop or gypsy)
• blues / rock

In addition to recognizing the talent of the best guitarists and offering participants on-stage experience, the event will also give them a chance to share in several thousand dollars worth of prizes awarded by Godin Guitars and Steve’s Music Store, by the two official suppliers—Marshall amps and DigiTech guitar effects—and by the MMMIS, the Montreal Guitar Show, and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

The preliminary auditions will take place over two days: Saturday, September 29, and Sunday, September 30, at the Savoy du Métropolis, before an audience. Participants will have to perform a piece of their own choosing (either a composition of their own or an interpretation of someone else’s work) before a judges’ panel. The final auditions will take place at Club Soda—again before an audience—on Sunday, September 30, starting at 8:00 p.m., and will star the top three candidates in each category who stood out in the preliminary auditions.

The MMMIS, presented by General Motors of Canada as part of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, is proud to participate in the 11th anniversary of Quebec’s Journées de la culture with the second edition of the Montreal Guitar Grand Prix, and to offer our talented young musicians a platform for developing and showcasing their art. Like the Blues Camp and the support given by the MMMIS to other youth activities, this event reflects the MMMIS philosophy of promoting music making among all publics. It seeks both to lend a helping hand to home-grown musicians by offering them stage experience and to promote higher-level music education.

If you would like to participate, nothing could be easier: just register at www.ticketpro.ca before September 28 at 5:00 p.m. Places are limited, so it’s first come, first served! For more information, log on to montrealguitargrandprix.com.

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