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NARGC

North American Rock Guitar Competition

About Me

The NARGC
Welcome to the 2007 North American Rock Guitar Competition.
Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry.
The contestants will travel to Buffalo, NY and compete for cash and prizes on June 18th, 2007 at UB's Center for the Arts.
After a very long second round of judging that ended in a draw for the fifth slot, the WNED Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival is pleased to announce the Top 6 contestants who will compete for top honors... MEET THE FINALISTS!

IN NO SPECIFIC ORDER
The 2007 NARGC top 6 are:
Brian Davidson - Nashville, TN
Rogerio Maudonnet - Sâo Paulo, Brazil
Jamie Robinson - Pickering, Ontario
Dan Peters - Morton Grove, Il
Anton Tsygankov - Moscow, Russia
Rodney VerBrugge - San Carlos, CA
The 2007 winner will be awarded a cash prize of $1,500 and a Les Paul Supreme valued at $4,718. The winner will also receive the Tommy Tedesco Award, honoring the legendary Niagara Falls, NY-native, billed as “the most recorded guitarist in history” by Guitar Player magazine.
The runner-up will receive $1,000 cash and a Les Paul Antique Classic valued at $3019.
The third place winner will receive $500 cash and a Les Paul BFG valued at $1399.
Prize packages will also be awarded to the fourth and fifth place finalists that include Gibson guitars and trophies.
Competition Timeline:
This spring 5 finalists will be chosen to compete in the 2007 North American Rock Guitar Competition. Here is a timeline that outlines the competition.
January 10th- April 20th: Entries are accepted online through Sonic Bids and by packages sent to WNED
April 20th: All entries received by this date will be entered into round one of the judging process
April 21st- 28th: Round 1 Judging: Entries go through a blind* judging process by the UB Center for the Arts and Guitar Festival Staff to reach the top 30 entries received
April 29th: Round 2 Judging: A panel of industry professionals gather to hear the top 30 entries determined from Round 1.
The judges are asked to blindly score the following four catagories:
Technique/Accuracy
Range & Variety: Choice of Material
Melodic & Rhythmic Creativity
Overall Artistry/ Musical Expression
April 30th- May 3rd- The Top 5 Contestants are contacted by phone
May 4th- The Top 5 are announced on OUR HOME PAGE
June 16th- The Top 5 travel to Buffalo
June 17th- The Top 5 rehearse with our house band at UB Center for the Arts
June 18th- The Top 5 compete for cash and gear! The North American Rock Guitar Competition takes place at 7:30pm at UB Center for the Arts in Buffalo, NY
*Blind judging means that the judges only hear your CD. They do not know your name, or see the picture or bio that you send with your entry.
THE COMPETITION
The North American Rock Guitar Competition celebrated its 6th anniversary in 2006 and is an electric crowd pleaser that has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception in 2001. With the winning combination of tremendous judges serving on the panel, a rockin’ host and some of the best unsigned rock guitarists in the country competing for the coveted Tommy Tedesco award, the Competition has become a “not-to-be-missed” event and the crown jewel of the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival.
Five finalists are chosen by industry representatives and musicians from hundreds of entries submitted from all over the United State and Canada. These five are brought to Buffalo in June to compete before a live audience and our judges at University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts. Each contestant plays a ten-minute set with accompaniment from our House Band. Contestants are judged on the following criteria: technique and accuracy, range and variety of material choice, melodic and rhythmic creativity and originality, and the guitarist’s overall artistry, musical expression and audience rapport.
Panels comprised of music educators, musicians and industry representatives conduct blind tape/CD judging culminating in a chance for five finalists to compete on at the University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts before music industry judges and a live audience. Past judges have included:
Vernon Reid, lead guitarist of Living Colour
Brett Scallions, lead singer of Fuel
Kat Dyson, lead guitarist for Prince and Cyndi Lauper
Rik Emmett, Canadian guitar virtuoso and former lead singer and guitarist of the band Triumph
Sid McGinnis, lead guitarist for Late Show with David Letterman
Robby Takac, bass player for the Goo Goo Dolls
David Berryman, president of Gibson Guitars
Tom Calderone, executive vice president for Music and Talent Programming, MTV
Regi Wooten, renowned funk guitarist
Jude Gold, associate editor of Guitar Player magazine
About the North American Rock Guitar Competition’s House Band
The 3 members of The North American Rock Guitar Competition House Band have been a constant for all five years of the event. These musicians serve as the stabilizing force for our contestants and provide electrifying performances for our audience each and every year!
Band musical director and accompanying guitarist Tony Scozzaro is no stranger to the Western New York rock guitar scene. He attended Villa Maria College where he earned an Associates in Arts Degree in Music and the Guitar Institute of Technology where he received an award for Outstanding Player of the Year. Buffalo’s Music Awards voted him Buffalo’s Top Guitarist in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and he was later inducted in the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Tony has played with some of the area’s top bands including Anthracite and Gamalon and is currently working with The Zone and The Press. Tony is proud to have opened for Mike Stern, Albert Collins and one of tonight’s judges, Vernon Reid, to name just a few. Tony is a professional national guitar teacher and three of his students have been seen on this very stage as contestants in the Competition each having made it to the Top Five. With plans to relocate to Florida in September, you can keep up on all of Tony’s happenings at TonyScozzaro.com
Bassist Jack Kulp is a Berklee graduate with over 25 years experience performing and teaching all styles on the electric bass. Jack has toured both locally and internationally and his recent projects include The Zone with fellow House Band members Tony Scozzaro and Jim Linsner in addition to Jay Willis. Jack also plays with The Last Word featuring Alex Acuna, Kenwood Dennart and Othello Molineaux.
Jim Linsner earned his degree in music performance from the State University of NY at Buffalo in 1987. Since then he has become one of the most in demand drumset players in Western NY. He can be seen around town with JJ Swing, Group Therapy, The Pyramid Big Band, the Tony Scozzaro Trio, and many others. This month he’s performing in the hit musical “Zooma, Zooma” at Studio Arena. Jim is also a dedicated drumming instructor. He teaches 40 private students each week and published two drum books entitled “Groovezilla” and “Rhythm” which are used by drum teachers throughout the United States.
The Legendary Tommy Tedesco
The North American Rock Guitar Competition is very proud to name our 1st place trophy in honor of the legendary Tommy Tedesco.
Called “the most recorded guitarist in history” by Guitar Player magazine, the late Tommy Tedesco was Hollywood’s first-call guitarist for over 35 years. Some of his best-known guitar licks in television can be heard in the themes of Bonanza, Batman, Green Acres, M*A*S*H and Three’s Company. In the 60’s and 70’s he recorded everything from the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds to Frank Sinatra’s Stranger’s in the Night; from Elvis’ Memories to Zappa’s Lumpy Gravy.
Tommy worked on hundreds of films over the years. His first film was Around the World in 80 Days and his last was Schindler’s List. In between these two films his guitar graced other film soundtracks including Field of Dreams, Bonnie and Clyde, Cool Hand Luke, The Deer Hunter, Cocoon and the Godfather movies to name just a few.
Tedesco was also an active proponent of the craft of guitar playing. For many years he wrote a column, “Studio Log”, for Guitar Player and he regularly taught workshops around the country and Europe.
Tommy’s lovely wife Carmie has joined us in the audience for the past four years and has graciously awarded our 1st place winners with the trophy named in honor of her husband.

My Interests

Guitar, Music, TV, People

I'd like to meet:

Each and every unsigned Guitarist in North America.

Music:

PAST NARGC WINNERS
2007 HOST & JUDGES

2001 WINNER
The North American Rock Guitar Competition was born in 2001 as an educational event that would fall within the WNED Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival. One of the primary missions of the Guitar Festival is to celebrate the guitar in all its forms and the players who bring it to life…and not only just the famous guitarists! The Competition afforded unknown guitarists the opportunity to play before a panel of expert judges and a live audience and gave them a chance to win some prizes and gain new fans.
2001’s Competition took place in the Drama Theater of UB Center for the Arts which seats 300 people. It wasn’t quite filled however the small group who attended was wildly enthusiastic. The message was heard loud and clear. The Competition was here to stay. 2001’s winner was Doug Yeomans of Orchard Park, NY.

2002 WINNER
The Competition picked up steam when we formed a valuable partnership with Gibson Guitars that still continues to this day. We decided to take a leap into the Mainstage Theater of UB with a capacity of 1800. As word of the Competition grew regionally in Western New York and Southern Ontario over 500 people attended and were blown away by the quality of the competitors. Word also spread nationally through a partnership forged with Adelphia Media Services who nationally broadcast our “Call for Entry” spots. The relationship resulted in nearly double the amount of entries received from the previous year. Game on! 2002’s winner was Chris McHardy of Toronto, Ontario.

2003 WINNER
As planning for the event got rolling it was clear that a professional host needed to be hired. Abby Gennett, former host of MTV’s Rock Countdown, was just the rocker we were looking for! Excitement abounded when WNED decided to record the Competition and all of the behind-the-scenes action for a documentary that was broadcast nationally on PBS. “Driven to Play” truly captured the magic of the Competition and the spirit of its competitors. Ned designed, built and played on his fretless guitar; a Guitar Competition first. 2003’s winner was Ned Evett of Boise, Idaho.

2004 WINNER
The Competition continued to build relationships in the national guitar community and formed a friendship with Guitar Player magazine that continues to this day. Guitar Player became a sponsor and advertised our “Call for Entry” in their magazine which yielded in hundreds of entries flooding in. The size of the audience size continued to grow and Carm Tedesco, wife of Tommy Tedesco – the most recorded guitarist in history and namesake of the Competition’s 1st place trophy – gave a moving speech onstage about the power of music and the respect and reverence Tommy always had for musicians on the rise. 2004’s winner was Jon Kabbash of Los Angeles, California.

2005 WINNER
Host Abby Gennett’s band went on tour with Motorhead so the search for a host was back on! Hard rocker from New York City, Queen V, joined us and sure did put the rock back into this rock and roll show! As our judge panel grew in both number and credibility, one of Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 100 Guitarists of All Time, Vernon Reid, joined the panel and came to Buffalo to watch our Top 5 battle it out. The audience tripled in size from the Competition’s first year and UB’s Mainstage Theater was filled with an undeniable electric energy that is hard to describe. His playing was flawless but it was his showmanship of playing his guitar with a bow – a la Jimi Hendrix – and then levitating it that left no doubt in the audience’s mind as to who would win. 2005’s winner was John Mameli of Naples, Florida.

2006 WINNER
Thanks to promotion in Rolling Stone Magazine, Guitar Player Magazine and Long & McQuade stores, the competition saw great leaps in the quality of material received during the entry process. Ironically enough, 2006 brought some familiar faces back to Buffalo for the Rock Comp. Two of the top 5 included former competitors who decided to give it another go. Some of our favorite judges including Vernon Reid and Kat Dyson also returned to help us out. After 5 spectacular competitor performances, reigning competition winner John Mameli rocked his hometown as the judges scores were tabulated. 2006’s winner was Les Robot from Edmonton, Alberta.

2007 HOST
We are pleased to welcome back QUEEN V as the host for 2007’s North American Rock Guitar Competition.

In her iron fist, this ferocious singer clutches a mic and claims sovereignty over your senses with that hard-edged, bombastic rock sound you’ve been missing. With her new album Death or Glory, which features contributions from the likes of Vernon Reid (Living Colour) and Tom Morello (Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine), V prepares to turn the rock world on its butt with bold and sexual lyrics, palpable passion, and a generous dose of caustic wit.

Not just a powerful female voice but a force to be reckoned with, V has been spearheading the growth of her own career from day one, never having an agent or a manager. Shortly after her brother taught her to read using the lyrics of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” our own soon-to-be-Queen was already calling the stage home. After years of piano lessons, V ditched the keys in favor of the six-string, later claiming, “It’s easier to jump around with a guitar than a piano.”

Musical chops in place, V needed a name fit for a woman who would one day be rock’s leading lady. “‘Queen V’ was a reaction to the way women were portrayed in music at the time, shaking their [backsides], looking pretty, and having nothing at all to say,” V said. “I wanted to bring something else to the table and by calling myself ‘Queen V,’ it was the perfect way to challenge myself to raise the bar, to throw my hat into the ring.”

V joined the fight with two self-released, self-promoted projects, beginning in 2002 with her “Critical” EP, which featured Lez Warner (the Cult) on drums. The EP marked the beginning of V’s work with longtime songwriting partner and producer Phil Schmoll. “‘Critical’ was basically a ‘coming-out’ party for me,” V said. “It was a great learning experience that helped me get my sea legs.” The singer proved she was out in full force when, while performing at Don Hill’s the following year, she caught the attention of Twisted Sister’s manager and embarked on a tour with the band. Six months later, she was invited to tour with Billy Idol, further honing her onstage persona with rock’s best.

The singer used her experience with the rockers to add an even grittier edge to her full-length, self-titled release and proved she had absorbed some of the on-stage charisma of her touring mates when she took off on her own trek in 2005 and was asked to open for Bon Jovi. While V can easily deliver an all-out rock show, she decided to set out on a solo acoustic tour in 2006, sparing no level of intensity. “I thought it would be a nice change of pace to be one on one with the audience,” she says. After having seen V perform at the Viper Room, Morello asked her to join him for several “Axis of Justice” shows featuring his solo acoustic act, The Nightwatchman. V happily obliged and shared the stage with other acts such as Ben Harper, Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Jill Sobule, and Cypress Hill.

For more information on Queen V please visit QueenV.com

2007 JUDGE
JOHN 5 - Lead Guitarist-Rob Zombie/Acclaimed Solo Artist With one of the most impressive resumes in rock, John started his career by working with some of the biggest names in the music industry including k.d. Lang, David Lee Roth and Rob Halford. With experience across a variety of genres, he is most well known as one of the best modern shredders today. He is even likened to the Page or Hendrix for THIS generation. However, you could be forgiven if you hadn't heard of him.

Up until he joined shock rock troupe Marilyn Manson in 1998, and gained the moniker of John 5, as John Lowery, he had devoted his time to making other people's music sound good. And it was only in 2004, after Les Paul had persuaded John to make music for himself, he set out to do that. Parting ways with Manson in April 2004, John began work on his first solo album, "Vertigo". And from that point onwards the world has come to know the name John 5. With two critically acclaimed solo albums under his belt and a third released in April 2007 (The Devil Knows My Name - 60 Cycle Hum Records), plus a new permanent position with Rob Zombie, John has paved a bright future as a credible solo artist, known for his own style. Steve Vai called John "an underrated guitar giant" back in 2004 as he lent a seal of approval for the first solo album Vertigo, but judging from the sheer volume of work John 5 has been involved in over the past three years, underrated he is not anymore. Visit John’s website at www.john-5.com

2007 JUDGE
Austin City Limits, producer Terry has been the producer of Austin City Limits since 1978. Now celebrating 33 years on PBS, ACL is the longest-running popular music series on American television. He has produced over 800 programs with artists ranging from Ray Charles and Johnny Cash to Juanes, Coldplay and Neil Young to The Killers, Dixie Chicks and Erykah Badu. In 2003, ACL was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence, by the President of the United States in an Oval Office ceremony. September 2006 also marked the 5th anniversary of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which featured 160 bands and attracted a sold-out crowd of 200,000 fans, making it one of the most successful festivals of its kind in the country. Terry is also the Chairman of the Board of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the organization that bestows the annual Grammy Awards, music's highest honor. He is also a member Latin Recording Academy Board of Trustees. He has produced numerous other specials and series for public television, cable, domestic and foreign syndication, home video, and DVD. A native of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Lickona has lived in Austin, Texas since 1974.

2007 JUDGE
Jude Gold, associate editor, Guitar Player magazine He spends his working day up close and personal with some of the world's most renown guitarists, interviewing legends and upstarts, including Peter Frampton, Jon Buckland (Coldplay), Angus and Malcolm Young (AC/DC), John Scofield and Joe Satriani. A dedicated guitarist himself, Gold has worked with a wide range of artists, including George Clinton, 2 Live Crew and Eddie Money. He toured and recorded for three years with JGB (formerly the Jerry Garcia Band) and just finished a tour with acclaimed bassist and Buffalo native Billy Sheehan, of Talas fame.

2007 JUDGE
Frank Johns, electronic supervisor, Gibson Guitars A key player in continuing his company’s 112-year tradition of quality for performers and their instrument, Johns brings his extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the guitar to meet the needs of today’s guitarist. He oversees the manufacturing and production of the pick-ups for all Gibson, and some Epiphone, guitars. Gibson (led by Buffalo native Dave Berryman) is known for its classics-the ES-175, ES-335, Flying V, Explorer, Firebird, SGs and Les Pauls-as well as its forward-looking innovations. Frank worked with 2005’s Competition winner, John Mameli, at the Gibson plant this past winter on building his very own guitar!

2007 JUDGE
Beth Marlis, director, Guitar Institute of Technology When the Guitar Institute of Technology opened its doors in Hollywood in 1977, it was the right place and time for a great new idea in music education: a focused, intense, hands-on contemporary program designed and taught by working professional musicians and located in the center of the music industry. What began as a guitar school has since expanded to become Musicians Institute, a complete array of instrument, vocal, recording, music business and guitar-building programs in one of the world’s foremost teaching, performing and recording facilities. As director, Marlis oversees the school as it continues to blaze trails in guitar-playing education.

2007 JUDGE
Kevin O’Brien, Marketing Director, Fichte-Endl Eye Associates Every year the managers of the NARGC hear our guests giving opinions about how they would have ranked our finalists. In honor of our loyal NARGC fans who come back year after year, we have placed a “layman” on this years panel. As an avid and often rabid fan of music Kevin O'Brien attends nearly ALL live music events both in WNY and surrounding areas. Most recently, he did a brief stint on stage with the BPO/Pink Floyd performance where Kevin sang the chorus of "Another Brick In The Wall". He has had the honor of meeting many rock guitarists and just returned from seeing both The Who and The Stones on a back-to-back tours in Las Vegas. Considered one of his prize possessions is a concert ticket from Jethro Tull, 1971 when they played the old Memorial Aud. Originally born in Puerto Rico and raised in WNY, Kevin calls Buffalo his home and is the proud parent of two children also living in Wheatfield. Mr. O'Brien’s 19 year old son is also a budding guitarist in his own right and has performed at a few of Buffalo's venues. "I consider it an honor to be part of such a prestigious event" adds Mr. O'Brien

Movies:

Driven to Play, the NARGC Documentary

Television:

PBS

Books:

Guitar Player Magazine

Heroes:

Fichte-Endle Eye Associates, Gibson Guitars, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Guitar Player Magazine, WNED, The Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival, UB Center For the Arts, O Resturaunt & Longue.

My Blog

2007 NARGC Champion - JAMIE ROBINSON - Toronto, ON, CA

Amherst, New York--Following a live concert tonight, Jamie Robinson emerged as the best rock guitarist on the continent during the North American Rock Guitar Competition. Featuring finalists from coun...
Posted by NARGC on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:35:00 PST

Listen to the 2007 NARGC Contestants

Want a preview of the 2007 NARGC?..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />   Stop by our home page:   http://www.guitarcompetition.org/finalists.asp   To...
Posted by NARGC on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:58:00 PST

2007 NARGC TICKETS

The North American Rock Guitar Competition will be held at UB Center for the Arts on Monday, June 18 at 7:30pm in WNY. You can purchase tickets for $12.50 at the Center for Arts Box Office or at tick...
Posted by NARGC on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:51:00 PST

JOHN 5 Named as judge for the 2007 NARGC

With one of the most impressive resumes in rock, John started his career by working with some of the biggest names in the music industry including k.d. Lang, David Lee Roth and Rob Halford. With exper...
Posted by NARGC on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:50:00 PST

The 2007 NARGC FINALISTS

The 2007 NARGC Finalists have been posted to our main web site and our myspace page. Please visit our profile to find out who will battle for the title of 2007 NORTH AMERICAN ROCK GUITARST winner.http...
Posted by NARGC on Fri, 04 May 2007 06:42:00 PST

Contestants soon to be announced

Very soon we will be able to release information on who has made the cut for our 2007 North American Rock Guitar Competition.   The Entries have been reviewed by two independent blind panels, an...
Posted by NARGC on Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:24:00 PST

Call For Entries Now Closed

Welcome to the 2007 North American Rock Guitar Competition official website. The entry period for the 2007 North American Rock Guitar Competition is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who submitted ...
Posted by NARGC on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:59:00 PST

NARGC 2007 - Call for entries NOW OPEN!

The entry period for this year's Rock Guitar Competition is officially open.  All entries must be received by Friday, April 20, 2007. The Top 5 who will travel to Buffalo and compete for cash an...
Posted by NARGC on Wed, 24 Jan 2007 06:51:00 PST

Past Winners of the NARGC

N.A.R.G.C. History .. 2001The North American Rock Guitar Competition was born in 2001 as an educational event that would fall within the WNED Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival. One of the primary mis...
Posted by NARGC on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:18:00 PST

QUEEN V is announced as the host for 2007 NARGC

We are pleased to welcome back QUEEN V as the host for 2007's North American Rock Guitar Competition. QUEEN V, lead singer and front woman for her band QUEEN V, hails from NYC where her band delivers ...
Posted by NARGC on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 03:12:00 PST