An Ongoing Partnership - Yamaha and MUSICalifornia

MUSICalifornia, a post-Easter retreat and musical renewal for music ministers, is one of the best-known events of its kind. At its 25th Annual Conference for Church Musicians and Worship Leaders at the Sheraton, San Diego, 1,270 music ministers attended from 42 U.S. states, the Philippines, Canada, Mexico, Sweden and Australia.

Yamaha, an exhibitor for many years, has proudly been the official piano of MUSICalifornia since 1993. This year Yamaha contributed Clavinova digital pianos for concerts, premieres and reading sessions in the ballroom; four pianos for seminars; and displayed numerous pianos in the exhibition hall.

The week-long gathering featured nightly concerts and several premieres, including the eagerly-awaited "God For Us" (sequel to "God With Us," which first mixed hymns and choruses to create the now-prevalent blended worship style), and musicals with Christmas, children's and patriotic themes. Ralph Carmichael, the father of contemporary Christian music and MUSICalifornia co-founder, returned with his Big Band for a rousing send-off on the final evening of the silver celebration.

Mike Bates, Yamaha's director of Academic and Institutional Relations, describes the week as "an outstanding musical experience with some of the greatest musicians and nicest people I've ever met." He continues, "Each year, more and more music ministers come up to us at MUSICalifornia and tell us they purchased Yamaha products as a result of seeing and hearing them at MUSICalifornia."

O.D. Hall, Jr., director of MUSICalifornia since 1983, is one. Hall purchased a Clavinova for his Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church in Riverside, CA, after hearing one at a recording session. "It changed my whole concept of what a digital piano could be," Hall says. "The ease of moving it, its flexibility with other voices - such as grand piano sounds and harpsichord - have brought us great results."

"It's hard to get two grand pianos on one stage," he adds, "but using the Clavinova, you get all the flourish and fanfare of two grand pianos, without worrying about space restrictions. Even in a hotel ballroom, where it isn't easy to get a great sound, the Clavinova rivals a miked grand. It couldn't be better for a convention."