Shawn Farquhar

Shawn Farquhar
Born (1962-06-07) June 7, 1962
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Occupation Magician
Website http://www.magichampion.com/

Shawn Farquhar (born June 7, 1962) is a Canadian magician and illusionist notable for his title as the "Grand Prix World Champion of Magic" from the International Federation of Magic Societies.[1]

His awards include being the only magician in history to win First Place at the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) for both Stage and Sleight of Hand, twice Canadian Association of Magicians Magician of the Year,[2] First Place at the Society of American Magicians annual magic convention competition, three Silver (2nd Place) awards, and a First (World Championship) in Card Magic and the Grand Prix World Championship for Close Up at FISM, the "Olympics of Magic". In August 2009, he won his most prestigious prize at the FISM World Championship of Magic in Beijing.[3] On May 1, 2010, the Canadian Association of Magicians once again named him Canadian Magician of the Year, making him the only two-time recipient of their most prestigious award.

Originating from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Farquhar travels the world extensively performing and lecturing for magicians and consults for TV shows and motion pictures. He has appeared on the cover of the largest magic publications in Asia, Europe and North America. He has appeared on stages all over the world, including the Riveria, Las Vegas, Opera House, Blackpool and Orpheum, Vancouver. He has performed for Elizabeth II[4] on her visit to Charlottetown, PEI and has traveled to Bermuda at the request of The Princess Royal.[4]

He is a Past President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the Canadian Association of Magicians and Pacific Coast Association of Magicians.

Original pieces

Shawn is known for several original magic effects. These effects include a signed card appearing in a sealed deck, a musical card routine titled Shape Of My Heart, MatriXpress, Torn 2 Pieces, Extended Stay, a specialized wallet named C2W, a cups and balls routine that ends with solid cups and his latest effect to fool Penn & Teller entitled Sheer Luck the Comedy Book Test.

Television appearances

Before going onto greater fame, Farquhar's first TV appearance was as a contestant on the Canadian-produced game show Talk About in 1989.

Farquhar appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on January 13, 2010, where she referred to him as "the best sleight-of-hand magician in the world". He presented several effects, including his creation of a signed card in a sealed deck in Ellen DeGeneres' hands, and a torn and restored signed photograph.[5]

In 2011, Farquhar was the first contestant filmed for Season 1 on the UK show Penn & Teller: Fool Us, in which the aim is to perform a trick in front of Penn and Teller and hope they are unable to work out how it is done. Farquhar successfully fooled them by creating the illusion of a signed card appearing reversed inside a brand new (and shrink-wrapped) deck. Farquhar won the opportunity to be in their show in Vegas.

In 2012, Farquhar was a guest on the Canadian television talk show, Stephen and Chris, where he presented several effects including a card trick with a golf ball retriever and a sand pail as well as his prototype for his comedy book test.

On July 13, 2016 Farquhar returned to the CW Networks show Penn & Teller: Fool Us to perform an original piece of magic entitled Sheer Luck. Farquhar asked the new host Alyson Hannigan to join him in a demonstration of memory and was tested to recall several random pages of the novel The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Farquhar, who was the first to fool them in season one of show, was once again successful. Farquhar once again won the opportunity to be in their show in Vegas. This makes Shawn, along with the American sleight of hand specialist Shin Lim, one of only two magicians to fool them twice.

References

  1. ↑ Official Site of the FISM World Championship of Magic.
  2. ↑ Canadian Association Of Magicians Website.
  3. ↑ "B.C. man wins magic's top prize". CBC News. August 24, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  4. 1 2 "The Canadian Encyclopedia".
  5. ↑ "Maillardville magician wows Ellen". Tri-City News. March 2, 2010.
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