It's a great pleasure to announce that Arek took third place in the "Guitar Superstar" - one of the most prestigious guitar competitions in the world organized by the renowned music magazine “Guitar Player”. With hundreds of applications, only the top five qualified for the finals, including Religa. The final concert took place on July 23rd in the music capital of the USA - Nashville, Tennesse during which selected finalists presented their talent. This concert was held there as part of the summer edition of the NAMM Music Fair. Arek Religa played his own composition, an instrumental song entitled "Chicago Guitar Knight."

Watch the results announcement · Read report on guitarplayer.com

Each of the finalists was accompanied by a team of excellent Nashville-based musicians: Craig Krampf - drums (Little Richard, Steve Perry and Nick Gilder), Chris Leuzinger - Guitar (Hank Williams Jr., George Strait, Julio Iglesias, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Olivia Newton John), Dave Pomeroy - bass (Willie Nelson, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Peter Frampton, Steve Winwood, John Fogerty, Chet Atkins, Eric Johnson, John Mellencamp).

The jury consisted of great musicians and music industry individuals such as Carl Verheyen (Supertramp, Christina Aguilera, Bee Gees, Cher, Belinda Carlisle, Little Richard, Dolly Parton, Glenn Frey, John Fogerty, BB King, Jose Feliciano), Muriel Anderson (originator of the legendary "All Knight Star Guitar ") and Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie, The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Brian Eno, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, Public Enemy and Natalie Imbruglia).

The event was led by the legendary guitar virtuoso, Larry Carlton (Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, The Four Tops, Christopher Cross, Barbra Streisand). The initiator and main organizer of the contest is Michael Molenda of the "Guitar Player".

Arek has been chosen as one of Guitar Player Magazine's Guitar Superstar 2011 final five! These five finalists will compete at Guitar Superstar 2011 in Nashville, TN on July 23, 2011 as part of Summer NAMM 2011's Wanna Play Day.

The Hollywood Music in Media Awards recognizes and honors the music in visual mediums, the talented individuals responsible for creating and placing it, and the music of both mainstream and independent artists from around the globe. This year, the jury at HMMA nominated Arek for his latest instrumental production Chicago Guitar Knight.

Ola Adamowska is only 3 years old. This little girl has already gone through the hell of illness and several operations, yet she managed to cope with pneumonia, staph, sepsis, epilepsy and brain cancer! To help her parents in gathering necessary funds for her expensive rehabilitation, Arek and other bands (ie. Glass Block Factory, Veselovsky) will be performing free of charge at "The Mad Tapper" in Northlake, IL on Saturday, July 30th. The gig starts at 7pm, addmission $10. All the money collected that evening (including addmission) will be devoted to Ola's rehabilitation. Please, help the little one and be a part of this charitable event. See brochure (Polish only)