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Weathers Music has brought in many high level artists and
clinicians over the years, both for events in the store, and
as sponsors for the schools or community. Some names which
come to mind are the Canadian Brass, Saxophone virtuoso Gene
Rosseau , trumpeter Don Jacoby, N.Y. band director Edwin Franko
Goldman, and many others.
Perhaps the most significant events, in Keith's personal
view, have been the Yamaha Organ Festivals, which Dave Louthan
has put on since the Lancaster Mall days of the 70s. Yamaha's
Music School classes were for little children, but as they
got older they went on to more sophisticated organs, and eventually
to the Electone organ course. This was an analog instrument
then (and now is digital), which could play almost anything
with any effect, like a full orchestra at your fingertips.
Each U.S. dealer could have an Electone Festival, where participants
would play, were judged, and awards were given the three divisions:
The winners went on to regional, then national, then World
Finals in Japan. Keith's daughter Clarice, won several times,
and when 18 years old, won the national "professional"
division and went to the Tokyo finals. Keith and his wife
Judy went with her and watched her perform with kids from
all over the world. This came about as a result of Dave Louthan
promoting those Electone contests.
Walt and Bernice Weathers also list this experience and the
growth of this Music Education Studio as one of the highlights
in their careers.
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