Join Guitar World & Martin Guitar at NAMM for a Special Interview and Performance by Gretchen Menn Winner of the No Limits Challenge
Saturday, June 4 at 3:00 p.m., Martin Guitar Booth (5602, Hall D)
Nazareth, PA, (NAMM, HALL D, Booth 5602) - June 1, 2022 — Join Guitar World and Martin Guitar at NAMM to meet with winner of the No Limits Challenge, guitarist Gretchen Menn, on Saturday, June 4 at 3:00 p.m. PDT at the Martin Booth (5602 in Hall D). Guitar World’s Paul Riario will interview Menn, and she will perform with her husband Daniele Gottardo.
In early April, Martin and Guitar World launched the No Limits Challenge competition. A celebration of the company’s SC line acoustic guitars, featuring a revolutionary cutaway, the competition featured eight YouTube-savvy guitarists facing off against one another, covering tunes one wouldn't normally associate with an acoustic using one of the SC models.
Menn emerged triumphant after her acoustic original, “Venice,” beat out Helen Ibe's mashup of “Classical Gas” and Stevie Wonder's “Superstition.” She bested an impressive field that also included Jay Leonard J, Colin Scott, Sophie Burrell, R.J. Ronquillo, Nili Brosh, and Ruben Wan.
“I am stunned. Every single participant in this challenge is such an extraordinary musician, and it was an honor, education, and inspiration to be part of it. I am delighted if people enjoyed my arrangements and my original. The Martin SC 10E is super comfortable to play while not compromising good sound. Friendly for both the hands and ears,” adds Menn.
See Menn’s winning performance here.
For more info on Martin's SC Acoustics here.
About Gretchen Menn:
Gretchen Menn once flew jets to support her six-string habit. She holds a BA in music from Smith College where she studied classical guitar under the tutelage of Phillip de Fremery. Her musical interests and inclinations span centuries and genres: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Ravel, Django Reinhardt, Jimmy Page, Steve Morse, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck...
Her first solo album, Hale Souls (2011) is an offering of original, instrumental works. Her second release, Abandon All Hope (2016) blends modern and classical instruments in intricate, cinematic compositions that evoke a musical journey through Dante’s underworld. She is currently working on a third solo album.
She is the guitarist and a founding member of Zepparella, the acclaimed Led Zeppelin powerhouse tribute band, and has performed as a solo powerhouse, and has performed as a solo artist throughout the U.S. and in guitar festivals in Switzerland and Germany.
Gretchen is also passionate about sharing her love of music through education. She teaches masterclasses and clinics, contributes lessons for Premier Guitar and Acoustic Guitar Magazines, has an instructional course available on JamPlay.com, produces free YouTube lessons, and has a book published by Stringletter Media, How Music Works.
Links:
Website: http://gretchenmenn.com/
Instagram: @gretchenmenn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/gretchenmenn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GretchenMennGuitar
Twitter: @gretchenmenn
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gretchenmenn
TikTok: @gretchenmenn
About Martin Guitars and Strings:
C. F. Martin & Co.® has been Inspiring Musicians Worldwide® for nearly two centuries with their superior guitar and string products. Martin guitars and strings remain the choice for musicians around the world for their unrivaled quality, craftsmanship, and tone. Throughout the company’s long history, Martin products can be seen and heard across all genres of music and in all segments of pop culture, from concert and theater stages to television and movies. With an unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible manufacturing practices, Martin continually drives the acoustic guitar market forward, introducing innovative features that have become standards across the industry. These groundbreaking innovations include the introduction of X-bracing, the 14-fret guitar, and the “Dreadnought” size guitar. Martin has also led innovations in strings, such as introducing the first high-tensile strength steel-string core wire; the first nickel acoustic strings (Martin Retro®); the proprietary Titanium Core strings; and now the groundbreaking, new Authentic Acoustic line, which offers unmatched stability, tone, comfort, and longevity. Learn more here: www.martinguitar.com/aa. Connect with Martin Guitars and Martin Strings on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and via www.martinguitar.com