Don Alder 1

His performances are intense, passionate and awe inspiring. His "WOW" factor has led to multiple endorsement deals including the creation of a "Don Alder G4" model guitar built by Greenfield Guitars as well as a National Endorsee/Clinician for Yamaha Guitars. He's also one of the featured artists on the Mega Guitar String Manufacturer www.deanmarkely.com website.

Don Alder is a world class fingerstyle guitarist and has been called Vancouvers "best kept little secret" his inimitable style carries on the acoustic tradition of greats like Don Ross, Tommy Emmanuel, Michael Hedges and Pierre Bensusan.

Don currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His unique style of playing incorporates a variety of techniques to create a wall of sound.

Picque News Magazin says this about Don, "Alder can make a single instrument sound like a 4 piece band. The Guy's like the acoustic Hendrix"

Master Luthier, Matt Mustapick says "Don is an amazing guitarist, a one man moche-pit. If your within 100 miles of a performance, go see this guy"

World Class Luthier Michael Greenfield says "Don is Canada's fingersytle secret weapon, its only a matter of time before the rest of the world discovers him."

Don is one of the artists currently being highligted on the popup music player at the www.DeanMarkley.com Website, one of the finest string manufacturers in the USA.
Use the drop down menu on the site to hear a sample of "Wok the Dawg" .

Don is also a musician on a mission playing music in the Key of Social Responsibility.
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 178 million dollars in the field of spinal cord injury and quality of life initiatives. 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. Don says " Whether I like it or not my life has always been about helping to make a difference, using music as vehicle has been a wonderful gift.

Don's live performances are awe-inspiring. He took 2nd place at the 2007 Canadian Fingerstyle Championships and also became the 2006 2nd place champion at the prestigious International Fingerpicking championships, held annually in Kansas and won "best instrumental" in the Winfield Song Showcases in 2004/05 an 2006. He placed 4th out of 300 international candidates at the most hearalded European 2005 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 the infamous online Acidplanet.com. He also came 3rd place at the BC Star Discovery in 2004 and 2005. He recently was a finalist at the 2005 International Acoustic Music Awards.

He continues to play to Canadian, American, European, and Asian audiences, sharing stages with Grand Master Acousticians such as Andy Mckee,Peter Finger, Jacques Stotzem 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.

Endorsement Deals
Dean Markely Strings
http://www.deanmarkley.com/EndArtists/DonAlder.shtml

Dtar (Rick Turner/Seymour Duncan pickup systems)
http://www.d-tar.com/cgi-bin/topartists1.pl
http://www.dtar.com/cgi-bin/topartist1.pl?LineNum=2

Ashdown Acoustic Amplification
http://www.ashdownmusic.co.uk/artists/detail.asp?ID=180

Greenfield Guitars
Don Alder Signature Model (Canada)
http://www.greenfieldguitars.com/steelstring/content.html

Craig Lavin Handcrafted Inlay
http://www.handcraftinlay.com

G7th capo systems

Yamaha Guitars Canada
-National endorsee

Competitions:
2nd International Fingerstyle Championships
1st – 2005 Winfield Intl. Fingerstyle Championships "Best Instrumental" Category
1st – 2005 Best 30-second Guitar Solo Contest - Acidplanet.com
3rd – 2005 Vancouver BC Star Discovery
1st – 2004 Vancouver Folk Slam
1st – 2004 Winfield Intl. Fingerstyle Championships "Best Instrumental" Category
1st – 2004 Vancouver Guitar Show "Shred Contest" using just an acoustic guitar
3rd – 2004 Vancouver BC Star Discovery
4th – 2004 Openstrings International Fingerstyle Competition, Germany
Finalist at the 2005 International Acoustic Music Awards

Performances:
Performed at Festivals including artists such as Pe
ter Finger,Don Ross,Jacques Stotzem,Andy Mckee,Dave Martone,Tony Mcmannus,Pierre Bensusa