Yamaha extends support of Clavinova Festivals

nder the guidance of Yamaha's Lori Frazer, Manager of Event Marketing, two new regional coordinators, Carla Doll and Kathleen Olive, were brought aboard April 1 to continue growing the success of the Clavinova Festival. Doll will assist with the Midwest festivals; and Olive will assist with festivals in Florida and the southeastern states. Beginning in May, both will attend an intensive two-day planning meeting and product-training program in Dallas, conducted at the studio of Susan Ogilvy, the National Clavinova Festival Coordinator.

Carla Doll

"What Carla Doll and Kathleen Olive offer the Clavinova Festivals, is both a strong retail and educational background," says Lori Frazer.

Carla Doll, who resides in Trowbridge, IL, has played piano and organ since she was six years old. In addition to being a teacher of private piano and organ lessons in her home, Doll is also the Music Director at her church. Her previous work experience includes 10 years as a piano/keyboard sales representative and manager at Samuel Music in Effingham, IL. During her time there, Doll coordinated extremely successful Clavinova Festivals. Working as a Regional Clavinova Festival Specialist, Doll will continue to help grow Clavinova Festivals in the Midwest by supporting Yamaha dealers with current information and ideas, cultivating new dealer interest, as well as training staff and music teachers for the event.

"I love Clavinova Festivals and believe that they are an outstanding event for everyone involved." -Carla Doll

"I am very excited about joining Yamaha," says Doll. "I love Clavinova Festivals and believe that they are an outstanding event for everyone involved. The relationships built from this event with the teachers and students can make the Clavinova Festival one of the most profitable dealer-hosted events. And the Yamaha Clavinova is such an awesome instrument to learn and perform on."

Kathleen Olive

Living in Naples, FL, Kathleen Olive began training as a Yamaha musical teacher in the late-1970s. She then worked at Hale Piano in Ft. Lauderdale for seven years, where her primary focus was Yamaha piano sales. While working at Easton's Music in Naples, Olive helped conduct two successful Clavinova Festivals. Last year, the newly instated Clavinova Festival Consultant attended the Summer Training Seminar (STS), a Clavinova training program.

"I've been a 'Yamaha Mama' all my life, so I am excited about doing this — I can't wait to get started," says Olive. "Music education needs to step into the 21st century and Clavinova can help with that. It offers kids a much broader music education. When they play the Clavinova they essentially have an orchestra at their fingertips, which makes it incredibly fun and instructive for them. And these will be the kids who will be conducting the music programs of the future."

Another recent hire to the Clavinova Festival program, Sydney Jill Lehman, will soon aid with seminars on the west coast. In addition to the recent hires, Joy Carden will continue as a regional coordinator for Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky.

"Yamaha is totally committed to cultivating the growth of the Clavinova Festival into something larger than it already was — and hiring these regional coordinators is undisputed proof of that," notes Lori Frazer. "We support this program 110 percent."