Don Alder

Don Alder C.M. is a Canadian fingerstyle guitarist, composer, singer‑songwriter, and world‑class acoustic music innovator known for his virtuosic technique and captivating performances. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Alder began playing guitar in his teens and has since developed a distinctive style that blends folk, jazz, blues, roots, and world music into richly textured solo performances that often sound like multiple instruments at once.

He is the only guitarist to win all three of the world’s major modern guitar competitions — the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, Guitar Superstar (USA), and Worldwide Guitar Idol (UK) — and his music has earned numerous honors including the Dominic Troiano Guitar Award and the Order of Canada for his artistic contributions and community work.

Alder has released multiple albums, toured internationally, and shared stages with artists such as Tommy Emmanuel, Victor Wooten, Lee Ritenour, and Andy McKee. He also performs on harp guitar and continues to inspire audiences around the world with his soulful playing, dynamic stage presence, and commitment to using music as a force for connection and joy.