JOHN PETRUCCI WINNER OF THE SENA PERFORMERS EUROPEAN GUITAR AWARD 2019

The American guitar-player John Petrucci is the winner of the Sena Performers European Guitar Award 2019(SEGA). The legendary musician from New York will receive the award at a special ceremony on June the 23^st in the Dutch city of Bergen op Zoom. Last year Joe Satriani won and accepted the award in person in the same town.

 An impressive list of former winners of the Sena Performers European Guitar Award led the way for Mr Petrucci: Slash from Guns N’ Roses, Brian May from Queen, Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout and Steve Lukather from the band Toto.Also Dutch stars like Adrian Vandenberg (Whitesnake), Jan Akkerman (Focus) and George Kooymans (Golden Earring) where previous winners of the award. The jury of the SEGA states: “Mister Petrucci is a true genius. A man who has developed such an authentic style in progressive rock, metal,  like no one else. During the last 30 years he made history with his unique way of playing. His skills as a composer, producer and bandleader and his unbelievable work-ethic are exceptional. Mr Petrucci is a legend in his own right.” Jean-Paul Heck, chairman of the SEGA-Jury who invited the guitarplayer for the SEGA last year in London, says that Petrucci, like the previous winners, is a man who influenced millions guitar-players all over the world. “Like Brian May, Slash, Joe Satriani, Joe Bonamassa Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, Jan Akkerman, Adrian Vandenberg and Walter Trout he is a man who set the standard for many years to come. Together with his bandmates from Dream Theater, he built this beautiful empire from the ground. Now Mr Petrucci is at the top of his game, conquering the world as one of the greatest guitar players that ever lived and that is a majestic achievement.”

Jack Pisters, chairman of the SEGA, is delighted that Mr Petrucci will come over to the Netherlands to collect the award in person and will play at this special event. “We are extremely happy to have John Petrucci as the next string champion for the Sena European guitar award. He has courageously guided as with impressive string skills from symphonic seventies to extreme virtuosity of the eighties and the composing virtues that make a band to endure the test of times. His performing, composing and educational skills make him a true legend who inspired so many guitar players to stretch into new territories.” Distance Over Time, last album of Dream Theater that was released earlier this year, entered at number 3 in the Dutch album-charts and in Germany at number 1.