Foundation secures hosting for finals of international guitar competition
As the Crown of the Continent Guitar
Foundation prepares for its second annual workshop, the
organization has staged a major coup by securing the right to host
the finals of the Lee Ritenour Yamaha 6 String Theory International
Guitar Competition.
These sort of major contests usually
take place in New York City or Los Angeles, foundation chairman
David Feffer said.
“This is a big deal,” Feffer said.
“It’s going to get a lot of attention. This really is putting the
event and Bigfork on the map. I thought it was going to take three
or four years. I don’t think I ever imagined in two years we’d be
able to host something like this. To have that is real
tribute.”
Lee Ritenour, a Grammy-award winning
guitarist, composer and producer, debuted the competition last year
with the release of “6 String Theory,” his all-star guitar CD which
has since been named Guitar International’s “Best Album of
2010.”
After serving as an artist in residence
at the foundation’s first workshop held last September at Flathead
Lake Lodge, Ritenour was impressed with what he saw.
“It was one of the most unique,
inspiring workshops I’ve been involved with. It combined great
teachers, great students and an incredible atmosphere that kept
everyone motivated and creative,” Ritenour said.
From there, he was hooked on the idea
of hosting part of the workshop in Montana.
“At the event last summer, he was
absolutely amazed... He thought the finals part of the event was a
really wonderful thing to have here,” Feffer said. “He thought it
would be better to have it be in a place like this — like paradise
— and make it very special.”
Entries in the competition, which
involve an online video submission, were accepted starting Feb. 15
with a deadline now pushed to May 15.
Thirty-six semifinalists — six from
each genre — will get scholarships to attend National Guitar
Workshops around the country. The winners from each genre,
including rock, blues, jazz, acoustic, classical and country
guitar, will be invited out to Bigfork to attend the foundation’s
workshop and participate in the finals Wednesday, Aug. 31 at the
Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts, where their performances
will be filmed and live streamed.
Prizes for the contest include a
week-long stay at the Flathead Lake Lodge for four, a National
Guitar Workshop scholarship, a potential recording contract with
Concord Records and a number of prizes from Yamaha Guitars, Monster
Cable, D’Addario Strings and others.
“We are very excited to bring the
Yamaha 6 String Theory Competition finalists to Montana,” Ritenour
said. “With such a high level of guitarists of all ages entering
during the first year, it’s very exciting to continue it this year
with 36 semifinalists, six finalists and competitions in all parts
of the country.”
This year’s Crown of the Continent
Guitar Foundation workshop will be held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4.
For this second year of the overall week of workshops, there are a
few additions. Two additional workshops will be offered, advanced
jazz and advanced rock and blues, bringing the total to six. The
acoustic workshop is being replaced by a singer-song writer
workshop.
Joining Ritenour at this year’s
workshop will be Joe Bonamassa, named “Best Blues Guitarist” by
Guitar Player magazine for three consecutive years, and
Grammy-winner Scott Tennant, who also taught at the workshop in its
first year. In addition, eight instructors from the National Guitar
Workshop will also be involved with the event.
“We expect to have almost double the
number of participants,” Feffer said.
Last year, 48 individuals attended the
workshop, but this year Feffer said the cap is being set at 80. At
this point, half of those slots are already filled through
registrations.
“People are literally signing up every
day,” he said.
Feffer said he was pleased with how the
first year’s workshop went and has had positive responses from
those who attended. Many have said they plan to return this
year.
“It was so successful,” he said. “Most
of our supporters have increased their support this year. Many
people have told us they are changing their vacation plans. It’s
created a lot of excitement. It’s very, very cool and rewarding for
those of us who have worked hard to pull it together.”
This year, the foundation has hired a
staff person, Becca Seliskar, to help manage requests and
coordinate the event. A portion of those who have already signed up
for this year’s workshop are making plans to lengthen their stay in
the Valley by adding days before or after the workshop. The
foundation has been fielding requests for information on activities
to do and places to see.
“We’re trying to direct people to local
businesses,” Feffer said.
He said he’s also seen results from the
first workshop in other ways.
“One of our objectives is to have
relationships develop between students, teachers and other
students,” Feffer said. “And a number of collaborative projects
have come out of this. It’s been just really rewarding. It was one
of our hopes.”
Feffer said he recognized the
contributions by members of the Bigfork community to make the event
a success, including volunteers from the Bigfork Rotary Club who
staffed the event. He said many people commented on how comfortable
they were in Bigfork.
“Many of these people travel all over
the world and they said they can’t recall being in any other place
that they’ve felt so comfortable,” he said. “The lodge was
unbelievable. It was just incredible.”
One of the foundation’s long-term goals
as it gets established is to be able to support the community
through funds raised by the workshop. The foundation collaborates
with and intends to support the Glacier Park Fund, Montana Public
Radio and Public Broadcasting, The Montana Land Reliance, North
Valley Music School and Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center.
Feffer said he hopes the foundation
will be able to start giving back this year.
“We’re close to being able to do so,”
he said.
For more information and to register
for the Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop, visit
www.cocguitarfoundation.org or email
bseliskar@cocguitarfoundation.org. For more about the guitar
competition, visit www.sixstringtheory.com.