Sep 24
spotlight: Winfield National fingerstyle guitar Competition Winners
L-R Tim Thompson(2nd), Don Alder(1st), and Dan Bliss (3rd)Don Alder of Vancouver, BC, Canada placed first in this prestigious contest. Alder is a Technical Production Manager for the Rick Hansen Foundation. This is his fifth time attending the Festival. He is also a songwriter and has placed three years in a row in the instrumental portion of the Songwriter’s Showcase here at the Festival. At the age of 13 he was given an electric guitar when he got sick and had to miss school for 6 months. In addition to the guitar he also plays the harp guitar. Don chose the Larrivee LV-10 Guitar by Jean Larrivee Guitars USA Inc of Oxnard, CA. He also takes back to Vancouver, BC the 1st Place Trophy and $3,000.
Second place went to Tim Thompson of Hendersonville, TN. Tim came to Winfield last year for the first time and placed in the top five in this competition. He is a full-time musician in Nashville doing session work and some live shows. In addition to the guitar Tim plays mandolin. He says he has been playing the guitar since he was 12 years old and got his first guitar, an old Sears Airline Guitar with the amp built into the case, from his older brother Denny. When asked if he will come back to Winfield and the Festival? “Of course,” he says “I have to try for first place in this contest.” Tim won the 2nd place trophy and a Triggs Flattop Guitar by Jim & Ryan Triggs of Lawrence, KS.
Dan Bliss, a 48-year old professional musician from Merriam, KS placed third in this competition. Bliss has entered this contest three times and in 2005 he placed second. He plays a lot in the greater Kansas City area, the upper mid-west and does some teaching. When asked about his early playing days he says he has been playing for 37 years and began playing on his older brother’s Epiphone guitar. About the Festival, Dan says, “I’m starting to feel at home here.” For his talents he won the 2nd place trophy and a Gallagher GA-70 Cut-a-way Guitar by J.W. Gallagher & son of Wartrace, TN.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...You might also like to read these related news items: