2018 Grand Champions

the Isabel O. Trio

2018 Runners-Up

Cooper Run

2018 Honorable Mention

Out of Pocket

2018 MVP Awards

This was the second year that the Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts awarded MVP Players with BRAND NEW INSTRUMENTS and other awesome prizes!

2018 MVP Vocalist

Isabel Osorio from the Isabel O. Trio

Isabel was awarded a professional creative portraiture photo shoot courtesy of Mike Kelly Photography!

2018 MVP Guitar Player

Ryan Schmidt from Cooper Run

Ryan received a brand new PRS SE 245 guitar courtesy of The Music Gallery in Highland Park, IL and PRS Guitars!

2018 MVP Bass Player

Tom Davis from Cooper Run

Tom received warded a brand new Fender Player Precision bass courtesy of The Music Gallery in Highland Park, IL and Fender!

2018 MVP Drum Player

Daniel Kwiecinski from Bad Idea

Dan was awarded a killer goodie bag courtesy of Bitter Jester Studios, Guitar Center - Arlington Heights, and Bitter Jester Music Festival Judge Lynette Foss!

2018 Special Recognition

Axel Ellis from Ax and the Hatchetmen

Axel was awarded a very special instrument from the personal collection of musician John Koziol in recognition of his outstanding 2018 performance. John first performed the Star Spangled Banner live at the 2018 Bitter Jester Grand Finale on the 4th of July, then presented Axel with his guitar, custom made by artist Joe Morris at JMOTO Speed Shop in Crown Point Indiana. The instrument holds a special place in John's heart and it was truly a unique prize to be given away at the 13th Annual Grand Finale. John said:

"We did two Discovery Channel pilot shoots at JMOTO where they made two guitars for me. Painted on this one is my Stage Name, "Johnny K," and "Casa Diablo," the song I wrote to audition for NBC's America's Got Talent. We were picked out of 10,000 acts to play on NBC because of that song and this guitar."