Intel® and Best Buy Canada Crown the First Intel® Superstar Canada

From over 825 entries expert panel select AndrewVictoria as the Grand Prize Winner

TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - After two rounds of heavy fan voting and intense deliberation by industry judges, Intel Canada and Best Buy Canada announced the winner of the first Intel® Canada Superstars Competition: Hamilton, Ontario-based AndrewVictoria.

The 7 individual genre winners were Manitoba's Abstract Artform (Urban), Ontario's Why (Rock), Quebec's Cassy (Francophone), Christi Hall (Pop), Mark Sad (Singer-Songwriter), Greg Wood (Country) and DJ-BU3NO (Electronica).

With the smooth and sultry original track "Repeat Yesterday," AndrewVictoria won over $5,000 worth of prizes, including a Fender® Telecaster - the guitar of choice for legends like Hendrix and Clapton - a top-of-the-line Intel® Ultrabook™, Avid™ pro tools to produce new work and much more by Shure®, Casio®, Monster among others.

"Music defines culture and inspires creativity and innovation. Our goal is to inspire the talent that creates it," said Intel Sr. Marketing Manager, Mike Rivet. "The music world is changing at an increasing speed - all due to technology. And we want to make sure, as the world's leading producer of computer technology, that we help musicians find the tools to create and reach success."

The winners also receive major exposure in the coming months at special Intel events and promotions. This past June saw Marie Hines, a 2011 Intel Superstar from the U.S., take the Intel Superstars stage on NXNE's closing night at YDS, along with the likes of Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. And this November, AndrewVictoria will headline the mbna Adrenaline Zone in Nathan Phillips Square for the 100th Grey Cup Festival.

"We're so amazed and appreciative of the opportunity that Intel, Best Buy, and Canadian music fans have given us as the very first Canadian Intel Superstar," said AndrewVictoria's Andrew Rudd. "The exposure which the competition brings is a definite boon for our career, and the prize package is awesome. It's incredible that Intel continually supports emerging artists."

Intel has long fostered creativity in many industries. "In its three years of amplifying emerging musicians' careers in the U.S., the Intel Superstars competition grew tremendously," said Rivet. "So in 2012, we expanded the program to Canada and teamed up with Best Buy Canada and a great group of sponsors to find that special talent that is the 2012 Canadian Intel Superstar. Congratulations to all the participants, and especially to AndrewVictoria. The creativity and talent of the artists is truly extraordinary and it was a tough competition."

"Best Buy is proud to support emerging Canadian musicians with programs like Intel's Superstars contest, " says Best Buy Marketing Manager Mary Ann McKenzie, "In addition to carrying the Ultrabooks™ that are ideal for music and home recording, Best Buy also offers a huge selection of musical instruments, home recording equipment and DJ gear. We understand that given the right technology, anything can happen - especially amazing music."

The industry panel that judged the finalists and ultimately determined AndrewVictoria as the grand prize winner included:  Bruce Tyler - Entertainment Consultant/Executive Producer; Jason Ienner - Manager, Hot Chelle Rae, Hamlin/Ienner Management; Michael Rivet - Sr. Marketing Manager, Software and Services Division Intel and Kristin Bredimus - VP of Community and Artist Relations at OurStage.com.

You can hear all the winning songs at www.bestbuy.ca/superstars.

Special thanks go out to the Canadian Intel Superstars sponsors: Best Buy Canada,  Fender®, Shure®, Casio®, Monster®, Samsung®, Avid™, and Sony®.

About Intel Canada/Intel Superstars Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com. 

Intel, the Intel logo and Ultrabook are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

About Best Buy Canada
Best Buy stores in Canada are a division of Burnaby, BC-based Best Buy Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY). We are Canada's fastest-growing retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics, computers and entertainment products. With more than 70 Best Buy stores across Canada, we offer a unique shopping experience with the latest technology and entertainment products, at the right price, with a no-pressure (non-commissioned) sales environment. Every day our employees are committed to helping deliver technology solutions that enable easy access to people, knowledge, ideas and fun. We are keenly aware of our role and impact on the world, and we are committed to developing and implementing business strategies that bring sustainable technology solutions to our consumers and communities. For information about Best Buy Canada, visit www.BestBuy.ca

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

SOURCE: MMK Marketing

Monica Kwias
MMK Communications
[email protected]

OR

Nancy Demerling
Intel Canada
[email protected]