Dispace Hashery Open Mic regular wins international competition.

Guitar Idol III is the world’s biggest  guitar competition. Building on the success of the 2008 and 2009 competitions, Guitar Idol III has a revised format and a longer competition period spanning late Summer 2010 through to the Grand Live Final show in December of 2011 at The garage in London.

Don Alder won the UK Guitar Idol III proving to be one of the most dexterous guitar players in the world. The sounds that come out of his guitar are hard to believe.  “I feel very humbled and honoured against some amazing players. Thanks to the Guitar Idol Team and Lick Library team for putting on this event that included  well over 1000 original contestants – With the 12 finalists flying in from Singapore, Guatemala, Chile, Israel, Romania, Russia, Germany, France, Canada, the UK and Italy, more than ever Guitar Idol retains its position as the premier global guitar talent contest! ” shared Don Alder to his friends adding the mishap that happened to his guitar “Check out my Yamaha in the pic it got damaged before I went to the UK but held it together with good old Duct Tape”.

BIO

Don Alder plays acoustic fingerstyle guitar with a passion that has quickly earned him a reputation as Vancouver’s “best kept little secret”. Don is a world-class fingerstyle guitarist with a “wow factor” that has let to multiple endorsement deals with major manufacturers and a collaboration with Greenfield guitars to produce a signature acoustic guitar- the “Don Alder G4″ model.

Don currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His unique style of playing incorporates fingerpicking with simultaneous percussion on the soundboard to create a wall of sound. He is often referred to as sounding like a four piece band. Don’s music is his own unique weave of deeply textured melody and story. Lyrical and compelling, his original songs are notes of exploration – some passionate and haunting, some hard-driven, others light and teasing. In quiet pieces or pushing right to the edge, Don’s phenomenal fingerstyle playing and rich voice captivate.

In 1985, he put his music career on hold to assist his lifelong friend, Rick Hansen, with his quest to create awareness for the potential of people with disabilities and to generate funds for spinal cord research. The World Tour (www.RickHansen.com), inspired millions of people throughout the 34 countries visited and raised 26 million dollars. Today, Don still works with Rick in a vital role at the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation, which has had an impact of over 200 million dollars in the field of spinal cord injury. Don says he got involved with the Foundation to “help make a difference” in improving the quality of life of others and now continues to do so with his music.

In the early 90′s, Don was mostly playing guitar as a hobby and was heavily involved in Wheelchair Sports. The World Tour developed Don’s wheelchair tech skills which he continued to hone post Tour. This evolved to the point where Don was chosen to represent Canada as the Equipment Manager/ Wheelchair Tech for the Canadian Paralympic Team in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney Australia, 2000. During that time Don met Sam Sullivan and Dave Symington, both quadriplegics from accidents. Sam and Dave both musicians, founded the Vancouver Adapted Music Society. Don became the guitarist for the society’s, performance band “Spinal Chord”. They released a CD title “Why Be Normal” which received national airplay. They also released the video “Mary.” see it HERE

He continues to play to Canadian, American, European, and Asian audiences, sharing stages with Grand Master Acousticians such as Peter Finger, Jacques Stotzem, Bob Evans, Andy Mckee, and Masa Sumide, John Parr (st elmos fire), Ellen McElwaine, Cassius Khan. He has also performed at festivals as a headliner which included artists such as Don Ross, Pierre Bensusan, Del Vazeau, Ric Emmet, Dave Martone.