Acoustic Female Guitarist Vicki Genfan of Fairview, New Jersey Crowned Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar 2008 Competition hosted by Andy Summers of The Police
Ten finalists battled for the international title of “Guitar Superstar” at Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar 2008 competition Saturday, October 13 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.
(1888PressRelease) September 17, 2008 - Vicki Genfan of Fairview, New Jersey, captivated the crowd and the judges with a stunning solo selection on acoustic guitar, beating out nine men to emerge victorious in Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar. First runner-up was Daddo Oreskovich of Chicago, who won points for his original approach, employing Middle-Eastern melodic lines and Japanese koto-like effects, and the only other acoustic guitarist, Makana, of Honolulu, took second runner-up.
All ten tremendously talented players were critiqued by celebrity judges Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Elliott Easton (The Cars), Brendan Smalls (Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse) and George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob). The judges provided comments after each contestant’s performance in an American Idol-style format, finding much to highlight among the uniformly high quality of the performances. Introducing each contestant and serving as master of ceremonies was the Police’s Andy Summers.
“This event is about celebrating the awesome power of the guitar, and all ten finalists stood onstage and delivered absolutely sizzling performances,” said Guitar Player Editor in Chief Michael Molenda. “Each player is a thrilling evangelist for all that is good and holy about transcendent guitar playing, and we were honored and humbled to have them represent their technique, creativity, and passion right here at Guitar Superstar 2008.”
Genfan, the sixth contestant of the night, uncorked a mind-bending composition using an variety of techniques, from alternating fingerpicking and chords, octaves and harmonics to two-handed use of the fretboard and deftly slapping the guitar as if it was a percussion instrument – seemingly all at the same time. Satriani described her performance as “fantastic” and Easton wondered aloud if she was “too good.” Vai deadpanned that she would make a good vice president.
“Vicki mesmerized the audience and the judges — not just with her stunning technique, but also with her musicality and charisma,” said Molenda. “Even though she wasn’t playing an electric guitar plugged into a raging amplifier, she still managed to capture the unmistakable vibe of a true guitar star.”
Further thrills were provided by Carlos Alomar who played some tunes with the new Moog Guitar, as well as from the house band Thud Factor. In addition to her trophy, winner Genfan received a prize package valued at $12,929 from Mesa/Boogie Amplification, EpiphoneGuitars, ZZYZX Snap Jack Cables, Collings Guitars, Audio-Technica Microphones, CAD Microphones, Carr Amps, Cruz Tools, Dunlop Manufacturing, Fulltone Pedals, King Amplification, Shredies, Villex Electronics, Auralex, Essential Sound Products, Fishman, and Keeley Electronics.
Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar is presented by Guitar Center with additional sponsorship from Laguna Guitars, Mesa/Boogie. Moog Music, Epiphone, ZZYZX Snapjack Cables, Bugera Amps, Audio-Technica, Auralex, CAD Microphones, Carr Amps, Collings Guitars, Cruz Tools, Dunlop Manufacturing, Essential Sound Products, Fulltone, Keeley Electronics, King Amplification, Magix, N-Tune Peterson, ProTone Pedals, Reeves Amplification, Reverend Guitars, Shreddies, Villex Electronics, and Westheimer/Cort.
Ten finalists battled for the international title of “Guitar Superstar” at Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar 2008 competition Saturday, October 13 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. 
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