After 42 years playing guitar, Harry Smith decided to create a showcase for others to show off their shared passion.
The 65-year-old brainstormed a plan last year to create a live guitar-playing contest in Vancouver, something he believes fills a need in an area that he sees as lacking in such exhibitions.
And he just happened to know a few people who were instrumental in helping him turn his idea into reality: acclaimed guitar masters John Standefer and Doug Smith, who have separately instructed Smith on the ways of the six-string.
Harry Smith’s yearlong efforts will culminate this month with the first-ever NW Acoustic Guitar Contest and Concert, a fundraiser for the Snowman Foundation music education nonprofit that will feature 18 regional musicians showing off their skills in front of judges Standefer, Doug Smith and Scott Gallegos. Those three will also perform following the contest at Shorty’s Garden & Home, 10006 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd.
“I have always desired to create a contest for guitarists,” Harry said. “It’s all coming together.”
For most of his time strumming the guitar, Harry was self-taught. About 10 years ago, he decided to take his hobby to the next level through guitar lessons. Since then, he’s studied with 2002 National Fingerstyle Guitar Contest champion Standefer and Grammy Award-winner Doug Smith.
“Of course, I’m nowhere as good as they,” Harry said.
When he found out that the renowned musicians had never performed together, Harry came up with his idea to bring them on board for the contest and concert. They agreed to help the event planning novice get his goal off the ground.
“Without their notoriety and their commitment, I really would be shooting from the hip,” said Harry, who is retired from a career working with computers.
The NW Acoustic Guitar Contest and Concert kicks off at noon Sept. 27 with a 12-person singer-guitarist competition, followed by a 2:30 p.m. fingerstyle-guitarist competition featuring six instrumentalists. There will also be a flat-picking demonstration by Conrad Swartz, from the Vancouver surf rock band The Insanitizers. The winners of both contests will win a Fender guitar valued at $600.
The contest portion of the event is free, and the 6 p.m. concert finale, featuring the expert guitarists as well as contest winners, costs $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Find tickets at www.nwacousticguitar.com.
Guitar has been an important part of Harry’s life, especially in the time following a health scare.
“When I had a heart attack five years ago, the guitar was the most peaceful thing for me to play,” he said. “It’s been therapeutic for me in many ways.”
Harry is already thinking about the second year of his event, but first he said he’s got to see how well this year’s contest goes. If he can get 200-or-so people to come out, he’ll get back the nearly $5,000 of his own savings he invested in the event and be able to give a significant chunk to the Snowman Foundation as well.
“I know the concert will be entertaining for everyone who goes to it,” he said.
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