"Hayley Weight
says the
Clavinova
Festival is a
lot of fun!"

Bethany Bigham performs at the Southeastern Music Gallery Clavinova Festival.

Eight-year-old Hayley Weight performed her original composition at Keith Jorgensen's Orem, Utah store and won in her division with a song entitled "The Otter's Favorite Trick." Hayley's teacher, Laurisa Ward, gives her a subject or a musical skill as a basis for a musical composition. Hayley is not required to write lyrics--but she does, even writing a song about the Clavinova Festival.

The Clavinova Festival is a lot of fun!
It surprises everyone.
The electrical system works just right.
It makes you feel great at the sight. 
Rock n' roll, jazz and classical too,
you'll feel the music belongs to you--
at the Clavinova Festival

Hayley was participating in one of the many Clavinova Festivals held by dealers across the U.S. this winter. Keith Jorgensen's in Boise, ID and Southeastern Music Gallery in Tuscaloosa, AL hosted Festivals, giving local music students an opportunity to share their music-making abilities and talents using the Clavinova.

Southeastern Music Gallery held its second Festival at the Northport Civic Center with 133 participants ranging in age from five to 85. Gary Jones of Southeastern Music Gallery happily noted an increase in the number of teachers participating. "The seminars and workshops that we held for teachers leading up to the Festival really made a difference," he said.

Just outside of the competition area, a "warm-up room" was set up with a variety of Clavinova models, complete with headphones. Students were encouraged to use the room for practice before their performances; the area was also open to people attending the competition, offering an excellent opportunity for everyone to see the numerous features of the Clavinova digital pianos.

Keith Jorgensen's in Boise, ID participated in a Clavinova Festival for the first time, with 79 participants ranging in ages from five to 17. Area piano teachers were sent sign-up forms for the Festival; those who registered more than four students were loaned a Clavinova for two months leading up to the Festival, according to John Beagley of Keith Jorgensen's.

Keith Jorgensen's also raffled off a CLP311 to a very special winner. Young Lyonal Poling performed along with three siblings in the Clavinova Festival. Because Lyonal was born three months premature, his ability to perform fine motor skills has been affected, making it a real challenge for him to play the piano, but that didn't stop him. Due to his disability, it took almost two months for him to write a thank you note to the staff at Keith Jorgensen's. He wrote:

"My name is Lyonal Poling. I am 7 years old. I played in the Clavinova Festival and it was fun. My piece was called "The Big Surprise." I did not know what the surprise was until the end of the Festival. I won the CLAVINOVA! It is neat. My whole family uses it. Thank you."

Now this family of music lovers enjoys the benefits of Lyonal's good luck. "The kids used to play duets with each other on our piano. Now we placed the Clavinova right next to it so they can play quartets," said Lyonal's mom, Margaret. She goes on to say, "Winning the Clavinova made a real difference to Lyonal because it's "his"; he's always practicing now."

According to Beagley, "Everybody had a great time at the Clavinova Festival. Next year's Festival should be twice as big."

For more information about hosting a Clavinova Festival, please call Lori Frazer at 1-888-9YAMAHA