U.S. Home Piano Dealers Honored for Sales and Achievement

For Immediate Release

Rebecca Genel
Global PR/Media Relations Manager
Roland Corporation
(323) 890-3718
Rebecca.Genel@roland.com

Los Angeles, CA, January 23, 2014 — Roland Corporation U.S. is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 Roland Piano Dealer Awards. Authorized Roland home piano dealers in the U.S. received outstanding sales performance and achievement honors during a banquet held by Roland Corporation U.S. at NAMM on Thursday, January 23, 2014 in Anaheim.

“Our team of home piano dealers is like no other in the industry, and we are grateful to be working with such an esteemed group. Their deep understanding of Roland’s digital piano product line as well as their attention to the unique needs of each customer truly sets them apart from the competition,” said Roland Corporation U.S. Vice President of Sales Brian Alli.

Britt Cawthon, store manager of Capital Music Center in Austin, Texas, was pleased with the 2013 results. “We are honored to win the 2013 Outstanding Sales Performance award for mid-size markets and appreciate our 26-year partnership with Roland. Roland's commitment to education and the use of MIDI files with piano education is exactly what the piano industry and Capital Music Center needed to help turn the piano business around. I am also personally very honored to win the 2013 Outstanding Achievement for individual sales. Roland pianos are amazing instruments, and educational features like DigiScore make them easy to sell. The rental terms from Roland and our own rent-to-purchase plan allowed me this level of success. The majority of my HPi sales started out renting the instrument.”

Riverton Music Riverton Music, Inc. located in Sandy, Utah, was honored with a 2013 Outstanding Sales Performance New Dealer award. Riverton Music Owner Kevin Rindlisbacher offered, “2013 was our best year in quite some time. This was largely due to the focus that Roland pianos provided our salespeople in meeting the evolving needs of their clients. Technology has become increasingly important to today's customers and while many dealers are shying away from that fact, Roland has given us the means to embrace technology.”

Valley Keyboards Valley Keyboards, Inc. in McAllen, Texas, received the 2013 Outstanding Sales Performance award for small markets. Owner Matt Perez said, “We really appreciate Roland’s partnership and helpfulness in product training for our sales team as well as Roland’s commitment to help our company’s market development through our after-school enrichment programs. Ellen Gonzales has done a great job for us and is there when we need her. We are looking forward to a great year!”

2013 OUTSTANDING SALES PERFORMANCE:

LARGE MARKET: M. Steinert & Sons (Boston, MA)
MID-SIZE MARKET: Capital Music Center (Austin, TX)
SMALL MARKET: Valley Keyboards, Inc. (McAllen, TX)
EDUCATION: Romeo Music, LLC (Coppell, TX)
NEW DEALER: Riverton Music, Inc. (Sandy, UT)

2013 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:

MARKETING: Gist Piano Center (Louisville, KY)
INDIVIDUAL SALES: Britt Cawthon, Capital Music Center (Austin, TX)

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 more than 40 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.