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Don Alder Clinic & Performance
| When: |
Saturday, March 10, 2007
7:30 PM to 10:30 PM |
| Where: |
The Listening Room at J Michael Instruments
1946 N Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32935 |
| Cost: |
Online: $ 10.00 / Door: 10 |
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"Wild and Wicked Acoustic Guitar".
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 4 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, inspired millions of people throughout the 34 countries visited and raised 24 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 150 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 honing 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 societies performance band "Spinal Chord". They released a CD title "Why Be Normal" which received national airplay. They also released the video "Mary".
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Performing his composition
Don's live performances are awe-inspiring. He came 2nd at the prestigious Winfield, Kansas International Fingerpicking championships, and won best instrumental in the Winfield Song Showcases in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He placed 4th out of 300 international candidates at the prestigious International Fingerstyle Competition Open Strings Festival in Osnabrueck, Germany.
Don also took first place in the 2004 Vancouver Folk Slam and the Vancouver Guitar Show "Shred Contest" using just and acoustic guitar. Don recently won the Best 30 Second instrumental for Week #6 on Acidplanet.com. He also came 3rd place at the BC Star Discovery in 2004 and 2005.
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. He has also performed at festivals as a headliner which included artists such as Don Ross, Pierre Bensusan, Del Vazeau, Ric Emmet, Dave Martone.
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