Past Events

There's always something going on at Alpha!
Here are a few of our events that you may or may not have been a part of.
For those of you who were there... Great to see you!
For those of you who were not... Why not?

The Alpha Music "Wizrds of Oz" Guitar Competition!!
When: Saturday, October 25, 2008 Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall The next installment of Alpha Music's official guitar competition celebrated the music of the one and only Ozzy Osbourne. We invite all guitarists, 18 and under, to come and compete to be crowned Hampton road's own Wizard of Oz. Each contestant performed with a live band (an Ozzy or Sabbath tune, of course) before a live audience and a panel of judges. When the dust settled, top honors went to Alex Dempsey. Alex's win netted him a Marshall MG100DFX half stack courtesy of Marshall Amplifiers. The second spot went to Marshall Wacker, who took second in our "Shred Like Ed" competition and actually won last year's "Show Me Your Angus" competition. Marshall took home a Dunlop Crybaby Wah courtesy of the fine folks at Dunlop Manufacturing, makers of MXR, Jim Dunlop, and many other fine brands. Once again, we'd like to mention our back-up band: T.R. Morgan on Vocals, Tripp Johnson on Drums, Alpha Music's Damien Wade on Drums and a special thanks to our own Micah Spruill who, once again, organized the event, played Guitar and handled the Emcee duties. Finally, we'd like to thank all of those who entered the competition for their support of the event and Alpha Music!
	Please e-mail or contact us for more information.

The Gibson Dream Machine is coming to town...
The Custom Shop Traveling Electric Guitar Exhibit
When: Saturday, August 30 Where: Alpha Music And you know there's no place they'd rather stop than Alpha Music! If you aren't familiar with "The Gibson Trailer"... The Gibson Custom, Art & Historic Division’s Traveling Exhibit is one of the most exciting displays of guitars and guitar information anywhere around. This 40-foot “showroom on wheels” lets you come face-to-face with the Custom Shop and provides you the opportunity to get that feeling that you can only get when you hold a Gibson!  The display includes Custom
Collection and Historic Collection guitars as well as one-of-a-kind and limited edition instruments. Just check out the slide show of some past visits from both the Acoustic and the Electric exhibits and whet your appetite!
	Please e-mail or contact us for more information.

The Alpha Music Bass Club

When: July 19th, 2008 at 3:30 pm Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall Adam Nitti has emerged as one of the cutting edge bassists and composers in the world of instrumental jazz and rock. Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, Adam currently has 3 CD’s released on his own Renaissance Man Records label. Adam has toured with the Dave Weckl band, Jeff Coffin Mu’tet, the Justice League, Angie Aparo and has also performed with such legendary artists as Scott Henderson, T

Lavitz, Peter Erskine, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, Kirk Covington, Susan Tedeschi, Wayne Krantz, and manyothers. He is currently the bassist with Steven Curtis Chapman, a 5 time Grammy winning artist. In addition to being a performer and composer, Adam is also Chief Learning Officer for MusicDojo.com, an interactive online music school. He is also a bass clinician for SWR, D'Addario, and Warrior Instruments, and is a staff instructor for Victor Wooten's bass & nature camps. Adam is also a columnist for Bass Player magazine, an adjunct faculty member of Lagrange College's school of music, a first-call session player, and has done dozens of clinic and performance appearances at such events as the Bozeman Bass Bash, Bassquake, Euro Bass Day, and Bassup! Adam was nothing short of spectacular and fun was had by all! Check out more info on Adam, on his website adamnitti.com.

The Alpha Music "Shred Like Ed" Guitar Competition!!
When: Saturday, June 28, 2008 Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall Alpha Music's official guitar competition returns! This year we teamed up with Jim Dunlop and MXR to celebrate the music of Van Halen and inviting all guitarists, 18 and under, to come and compete to be crowned Hampton road's own Eddie Van Halen. Each contestant performed a pre-selected Van Halen tune with a live band, before a live audience and a panel of judges. At the end of the show, the judges were unable to decide on the order of the top 2 spots; prompting an impromptu solo "wang off". When the dust settled the tiop honors went to Chris Rowley. Chris was awarded a hand-built Dunlop EVH signature wah. The second spot went to Marshall Wacker, who actually won last year's "Show Me Your Angus" competition. Marshall took home an MXR EVH Flanger. The 3rd place honors went to Nick Lemaster, who received an MXR EVH Phaser. All prizes were courtesy of Dunlop Manufacturing, makers of MXR, Jim Dunlop, and many other fine brands. Once again, we'd like to mention our excellent back-up band: Walt Redmond on Vocals, Tripp Johnson on Bass, Alpha Music's Andy Payne on Drums and a special thanks to our own Micah Spruill who, once again, organized the event, played Guitar and handled the Emcee duties. Finally, we'd like to thank all of those who entered the competition for their support of the event and Alpha Music!
	Please e-mail or contact us for more information.

Mandolin Workshop featuring Orrin Star
When: June 21st, 12:00 pm Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall Orrin is an award-winning guitar, banjo and mandolin player and also a recognized top bluegrass instructor. A former National Flatpicking Champ, he is the author of Hot Licks for Bluegrass Guitar and a columnist for Flatpicking Guitar magazine. http://www.orrinstar.com Workshop 1 - 12:00 - 2:00pm Rhythm Mandolin Rhythm is a vital yet seldom focused-on aspect of mandolin playing. In this workshop we explore five different rhythm styles, from folk to bluegrass, Celtic to country swing, and reggae. You'll come away with some new strums and chords forms that you can immediately apply to your music-making. Workshop 2 - 2:30 - 5:00pm Making Your Mando Sing: A Lead Workshop One of the hurdles facing mandolinists on the road from memorizing solos to making music is learning to incorporate rhythm moves into their leads. Using the classic song New River Train, this workshop will give you a tool-kit of strums and double-stops that can be used to transform a simple vocal melody into a full-sounding mandolin solo.
Workshop Details • Limited to 10 participants each. • Geared to novice - intermediate players. • Bring your instrument • Includes tablature hand-outs. • non-video recording devices welcome. • $45 fee for each workshop. Two ways to register • Email: Send PayPal payment to orhay@aol.com (Mention which workshops you plan to attend). • Regular mail: Send check (to 'Orrin Star') to Orrin Star 6318 Jason St., Cheverly, MD 20785
	E-mail or call Orrin (301)773-6149 for more info.

Martin Clinic - "The Martin Story: History, Heritage and Future"
When: Saturday, April 5th, 1:00 pm Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall
Join Martin Clinician and Bluegrass flatpicker Richard Starkey along with Martin District Sales Manager Dan Gulino as they take you on a tour of the Martin factory (on the Alpha widescreen) and and present the past, present and future of Martin guitars. They'll also be bringing some very special Martin instruments with them as well as conducting a free re-string clinic for your Martin guitars. Want to pick up a new Martin? Well Saturday is the day to do that! Buy any new Martin from Alpha's extensive inventory and we're going to pay the sales tax! That's right, Alpha Music will pay the sales tax on your new Martin! And as if that isn't enough, after the presentation they're gonna participate in Alpha's monthly Bluegrass Open Stage. This is one event you don't want to miss!
A totally free event brought to you by Alpha Music and Martin Guitars
	Please e-mail or contact us for more information.

The Taylor Road Show is coming to Alpha Music!
When: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall
A totally free event brought to you by Alpha Music and Taylor Guitars
	Please e-mail or contact us for more information.

Terry Bozzio Drum Clinic Extravaganza

When: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 7:00 pm Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall A true "drummer's drummer", Terry Bozzio is here to stretch the boundaries of modern drumming. Cancel your band practice, tell your significant other you are are going to school and don't be late for this event!

Terry John Bozzio (born December 27, 1950) is widely regarded as being one of the finest drummers of the modern era. Having made his name recording and touring with Frank Zappa (most notably in the concert movie Baby Snakes), Terry later went on to form Missing Persons with his then-partner and lead vocalist Dale Bozzio, ex-Zappa guitarists Warren Cuccurullo and Patrick O'Hearn and keyboard player Chuck Wild. Terry has recorded with numerous players on hundreds of different albums from right across the musical spectrum, including Duran Duran, Jeff Beck, Chad Wakerman, Steve Vai, Steve Stevens and Tony Levin, Andy Taylor, Robbie Robertson, Gary Wright, Don Dokken, XYZ, Paul Hyde, Herbie Hancock, Dweezil Zappa and Richard Marx. As you know, most of Alpha's events are free, but due to the magnitude of this event, tickets are required. Tickets are $20 available from Alpha Music. This event will sell out quickly!

Matt Mills Neoclassical Rock Guitar Clinic and Performance

When: Saturday, November 24 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall "I remember meeting Matt, hanging with him and hearing him play a bit. He`s a very nice guy and he's an excellent player as well. Scary Arpeggio play combined with blazingly fast neo-classical runs, fans of over the top guitar work will have plenty to feast on while listening to Matt`s playing." - Joe Stump

Matthew Mills grew up in southern Maryland and started playing guitar around the age of 15. He was completely blown away after hearing The Yngwie Malmsteen album Trilogy. In fact, the album completely changed his world. He knew he wanted to take guitar very seriously. He began playing as much as 6 to 8 hours a day and listen to guitar masters Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine, Joe Stump and George Bellas. These guitarists were a huge impact on his playing style. In addition to his 3 critically aclaimed solo albums, Matt is a very accomplished Guitar instructor, studio musician and fortunately for us, Matthew also does guitar clinics. On November 24th, he'll be playing songs from his instrumental albums as well as explaining his playing style and gear. Don't miss this opportunity for a little free neoclassical schooling! Matthew plays Schecter Guitars Fender Yngwie Model Guitars and Vox and Marshall amps.

Johnny Hiland Guitar Clinic at Alpha Music. Update! He's bringing his band!!

When: Friday, November 16 Meet and Greet - 4:00 pm Clinic - 6:00 pm Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall "I think Johnny Hiland is the most versatile guitar player I've ever heard. From Bill Monroe to Eddie Van Halen, he can play it all." - Ricky Skaggs

That's right! He's brought his band with him and the show was amazing!!!   If you tried, you couldn't make up a story this good: legally blind kid grows up in a trailer home in rural Maine. A guitar prodigy, he tours with the family band starting at age 8, wins local and regional competitions, moves to Nashville, ends up dropping jaws all over town, doing sessions with Ricky Skaggs, Toby Keith, Randy Travis, Janie Fricke and many more, and gets signed by Steve Vai when his manager leaves a demo snippet on Steve's voicemail box. But indeed, this is true the story of Johnny Hiland. Johnny has shared the stage with such diverse performers ranging from Vai, Satriani, and Ynvgie Malmsteen on their G3 tour, legendary rocker Sammy Hagar and Living Colour's Vernon Reed to country supertar Ricky Skaggs, to Les Paul to funk master George Clinton. In addition to session work, live performances, touring, writing, designing his signature model PRS, Johnny has been teaching Master Classes at such prestigious schools as Berkley School of Music in Boston, Musicians Institute in California and the Academy of Contemporary Music in England. He's produced 9 instructional CDs for Mel Bay and 2 Hot Licks videos. In 2006, Johnny started a motivational speaking campaign within the public school system in Maine designed to motivate students to achieve their goals despite any handicap they may have.

Alpha Music & Gibson Guitars "Show Me Your Angus" competition results!

When: Saturday, November 10, 2007 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Where: Alpha Music's spacious Performance Hall Alpha Music's official guitar competition returned and this year we teamed up with Gibson Guitars to celebrate the music of AC/DC and to crown Hampton road's own Angus Young. Each contestant performed with a live band (an ACDC tune, of course) before a live audience and a panel of judges.

At the end of the show, 2 reigned supreme (one from each of the 2 age brackets). Marshall Wacker took home top honors in the 16 and under bracket and Kevin Mitchell snagged the top prize in the 17 and up group. Both were awarded the two USA Gibson SG guitars shown below. We'd like to thank the fine the fine folks at Gibson Guitars for co-sponsoring this event and for their continued excellent dealer support and customer service. We'd also like to thank the our excellent back-up band: Walt Redmond on Vocals, Tripp Johnson on Bass, Alpha Music's Kevin Hall on Drums and a special thanks to our own Micah Spruill who not only organized this even, but played Guitar and handled the Emcee duties as well! Finally, we'd like to thank all of those who entered the competition for their support of the event and Alpha Music! Gibson SG Standard with Hardcase Gibson SG Special with Gigbag

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