HOLLYWOOD, CA. (Sept. 22, 2010) Yamaha Artist Services – Hollywood is proud to announce Yamaha artist Don Alder took home the champion title for Guitar Player magazine’s sixth annual Guitar Superstar Competition, which occurred Sept. 18 in Livermore, Calif.
The Vancouver, solo-acoustic player Alder stepped onstage completely alone, after several finalists with electric guitars had performed thrilling instrumental works backed up by the live house band. But Alder’s confident, entertaining, and technically flawless performance of his song “The Rogue” wowed the capacity crowd at Livermore, California’s Bankhead Theater, and garnered the only standing ovation of the night.
“This was such a well-deserved honor for a truly amazing guitarist,” comments Mike Tempesta, Artist Relations Manager for Yamaha Guitars. “We’ve been supporting Don with our line of handcrafted L Series guitars for many years, and we feel this award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving person.”
Guitar Player’s annual Guitar Superstar competition premiered at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Theater in 2005. Developed by Guitar Player Editor-in-Chief Michael Molenda and the magazine’s editorial staff, GPGS celebrates transcendent guitarists, and aims to evangelize all that is thrilling and wonderful and cool about playing guitar.
Each year, the 10 finalists are chosen from across the United States and Canada by the GP staff, GPGS Musical Director Jonathan Herrera, and, starting this year, the public votes. Each hopeful guitarist must submit an audio track of themselves performing an original instrumental song no more than five minutes long. Hundreds of submissions flood the GP offices each year, and the 2010 competition marked the first time that video entries were required.
The competition’s 2010 backline sponsor was once again Mesa/Boogie. Partner Sponsors were DigiTech, Framus, Mackie, PRS, and Yamaha.
For more information on Yamaha artists or the extensive Yamaha product catalog, please visit www.yamaha.com.
