From their beginnings ten years ago, the Yamaha Clavinova Festivals have grown beyond expectations to become a nationwide phenomenon. The Festivals recently reached a new milestone with the support of prominent jazz pianist and composer David Benoit. Benoit, who uses both a Yamaha Disklavier conservatory grand piano and a Clavinova CVP109 digital piano in his studio, is an outspoken advocate of music education who jumped at the chance to work with young artists through Clavinova Festivals.

Benoit made his debut appearance at a Clavinova Festival hosted by Yamaha Peninsula Music last November at the San Jose State Music Department Auditorium. Proceeds raised during the event benefited the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting instrumental music nationwide by partnering with businesses, schools, and communities to provide new and refurbished musical instruments to qualified schools and individual students.

“This Festival was awesome,” reports Yamaha Clavinova Festival National Coordinator Lori Frazer. “David’s dedication to the program was remarkable. The payoff was four unbelievable concerts that brought the audience to their feet.”

With 14 Clavinovas on stage, Benoit oversaw performances by 160 kids and 10 teachers. “They played just like an orchestra,” Frazer says. In addition, Benoit introduced Taylor Eigsti, his 15-year-old protégé, as a guest soloist. More than 1,100 people attended the four concerts.

“What I like about the Clavinova Festivals is the format,” says Benoit. “I’m not just judging talent. I have a chance to work directly with the kids and really get involved.”

Many other stores hosted Clavinova Festivals in the recent months as well, including eight of Minnesota’s Schmitt Music Center’s stores. Regional Manager Sue Freeman Dopp oversaw all Clavinova Festival preparation, from when the initial teacher invitations were sent out last March until the end of July when the Festivals took place. Nearly 65 teachers from across the state took part in teacher information sessions given by Frazer. For the next three months, 60 teachers prepared 475 students to perform using the Clavinova CVP96 digital pianos that Schmitt Music set up in each of their studios.

continued on next page

Key Action Home - Yamaha Home - Table of Contents - Next Page

| 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16   17  18  19 |

©2000 Yamaha Corporation of America
- Piano Division -
P.O. Box 6600 Buena Park, CA 90620