DON ALDER - 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 four 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 (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 200 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 to hone 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 society's, performance band ""Spinal
Chord"". They released a CD title ""Why Be Normal"" which received national
airplay. They also released the video ""Mary."" see it HERE
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, John Parr (st elmos fire),
Ellen McElwaine, Cassius Khan. He has also performed at festivals as a headliner
which included artists such as Don Ross, Pierre Bensusan, Del Vazeau, Ric Emmet,
Dave Martone.
Competitions:
1st - 2007 Inernational Fingerstyle Championships Winfield, Kansas
2nd - 2006 International Fingerstyle Championships Winfield, Kansas
1st – 2004, 2005, 2006 Winfield Song Showcase“Best Instrumental” Category
1st – 2005 Best 30-second Guitar Solo Contest - Acidplanet.com
Finalist - International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA)
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
Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night benefits the
Music For Life Alliance
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