JEAN-FRANÇOIS HAMEL – president of the judges' panel
Jean-François Hamel shares his time between the stage, teaching, composing, arranging and studio sessions. He studied at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec where in 1996 he was awarded the Prix d'interprétation in classical guitar. He then began a Bachelors in Jazz at l'Université Laval, before completing a four year run of overseas contracts in Asia, during which he performed more than a 1000 shows. He recently published a cycle of three concert studies for classical guitar and is presently busy recording and co-producing different projects in country/folk, indie rock, soul, hip-hop, R&B and world music.
ISABELLE HÉROUX (CLASSICAL)
Active on the international scene, Montreal classical guitarist Isabelle Héroux regularly performs as a soloist, in duo, or with an orchestra in Europe, America and Africa. Her recordings, ¡Viva Espana! (ATMA), Regard (XXI-21), Georges Delerue, musique pour guitare et pour flûte (DCM), have garnered her critical acclaims. Isabelle Héroux teaches at Sherbrooke University. She has authored several articles for guitar journals, a transcription and a method book, and she has a PhD in classic guitar teaching using a cognitive approach.
PAUL DESLAURIERS (BLUES / ROCK)
With nearly two decades of experience in the music industry, five albums under his belt, and a list of fans that extends into Europe and the US, this singer/songwriter has become one of the best-known guitarists in Quebec and Canada. Winner of a Lys Blues Award for Best Musical Performance in 2005, he continues to be nominated for enviable awards. Paul's 2006 solo release Ripping Into Red garnered rave reviews in the April 2007 issue of Guitar Player Magazine. Paul is also known as a founding member of the 90s band Black Cat Bone, as well as for his work with Dawn Tyler Watson.
YVES SAVARD (ACOUSTIC)
Yves Savard has a storied history as a guitar player, having accompanied over the past 37 years countless artists on stage and contributed to the studio recording of more than 40 albums such as those of Robert Charlebois, Laurence Jalbert, Isabelle Boulay, and Luba. He is currently touring Quebec and Europe with Linda Lemay. He was also producer of his first album: L'an 1, and is now recording a second album that will be available soon.
SYLVAIN PROVOST (JAZZ)
Guitarist Sylvain Provost is a leading light in Québec's Jazz scene, having made his first appearance at the age of 20 at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Over the last 25 years he has taken part in countless professional collaborations with artists such as Gerry Boulet, Oliver Jones, Yannick Rieu, Jean‑Pierre Zanella, Jean Vanasse, Coco Zhao, Terez Montcalm, Karen Young, Sylvain Lelièvre, François Marcaurelle, La La La Human Steps. With his long-time bassist cohort, Norman Lachapelle, he has produced a host of recordings, winning nominations and awards at the ADISQ, JUNO's and Opus Awards. He is currently working on an album with his new trio.