National Competition Displays Diverse Organ Talent From Across the Country
For Immediate Release
Rebecca Genel
Global PR/Media Relations Manager
Roland Corporation
(323) 890-3718
Rebecca.Genel@roland.com
Los Angeles, CA, March 31, 2009 — In their continuing mission to promote the hobby of organ playing, Roland Corporation U.S. held the second annual Atelier Organ Fest, which culminated in a final showcase of the country’s best organ talent in the National Finals on March 13, 2010, in Los Angeles, California.
Regional Roland Atelier Organ Fest events were held at select Roland organ dealers across the country in the fall of 2009. Dealers hosted these local events in their community, giving hobbyist players, students and professionals an opportunity to share their musical talents.
With the first round of Atelier Fests completed, many local winners jetted off to Orlando to compete in the National Semi-Finals. Competitors participated in one of four different divisions: Professional, Advanced Hobbyist, Hobbyist, Youth 1 and Youth 2. The top winners in each category advanced to the National Finals in Los Angeles.
Finalists performed on Roland’s flagship AT-900 Atelier Organ for a live audience. They were then critiqued by a panel of expert judges—organ virtuoso Hector Olivera, concert artist Rosemary Bailey, and internationally acclaimed artist Tony Fenelon.
Winners included Don Reed from Springfield, Massachusetts, in the Hobbyist division; Richard Guild from Syracuse, New York, in the Advanced Hobbyist division; Brent Evangelista from Orange, California, in the Youth 1 division; Riley Dunn from Kansas City, Missouri, in the Youth 2 division; and Jason Comet from Watertown, New York, in the Professional division.
The finalists of the Roland Atelier Organ Fest enjoyed the opportunity to travel to different cities around the country, and were inspired by the versatility and quality of Roland Atelier Organs. “I really love jazz, so I thought I would give it a shot to see if I was up to it and the Atelier was certainly up to it,” says Hobbyist champion Richard Guild. “The way it sounds, all the sounds that are in it, its playability, it’s just an awesome instrument. The more you play it the more it inspires you.”
For more information on becoming a participant or hosting a regional event in Roland Atelier Organ Fest 2010-11, please contact Lynda Smith at 323-890-3773.
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About Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments, including keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion, digital recording equipment, amplifiers, audio processors, and multimedia products. With over 38 years of musical instrument development, Roland sets the standard in music technology for the world to follow. For more information, visit http://www.RolandUS.com.