Future Prince George rock star is the first recipient of new award by local music instructor

He only picked up a guitar not too long ago, but never thought his talents could get to a high level.

On Wednesday (Nov. 18), 16-year-old Cayden Lehmann was rewarded for his efforts, and a bit blindsided, when he was given his dream guitar as the inaugural recipient of a new Prince George music-excellence honour.

Known as ‘Guitars for Upcoming Stars,’ Garry Turner, a local music instructor at Long and McQuade’s lesson centre, gave Lehmann a burned purple seven-string Sterling Musicman by John Petrucci.

Petrucci is the lead guitarist for the American heavy-metal group Dream Theater, which happens to be Lehmann’s favourite rock band.

“I can't believe it,” the D.P. Todd Secondary student said in a social media post, noting he had no idea a new instrument was coming his way.

“I started playing guitar around three years ago and these past two years were spent learning with my teacher Garry Turner. [...] No words can describe how happy I am.”

Cayden Lehmann's favourite rock band is Dream Theater, whose guitarist, John Petrucci, designed the seven-stringer he received with Garry Turner's Music Excellence Award. (via Rosina Turner)

Turner has taught local musicians guitar for 20 years, his wife Rosina explained in an email to PrinceGeorgeMatters, and has acted as Lehmann’s musical mentor during their time together as well.

The new award was created by Turner himself in which he’ll donate a new guitar free of charge to a student that “will probably never have in [their] wildest dreams come true, and see how [their] talents can soar from here!"

“It's exciting to hear and see him go to the next level of playing music with his talent and of course an amazing new guitar,” Rosina added.

“The greatest thing was the look on both of their faces, especially since he had no idea this was happening.”

For more information on music lessons at Prince George’s Long and McQuade, you’re encouraged to visit its website.