July 2012 | Volume 2
GM’s Comments Hello, and welcome once again to our quarterly newsletter, Blowing in the Winds. I offer a big THANK YOU to all of our dealer partners for your continued business and support. Here, in San Antonio, the summer is definitely upon us as we ramp up for the quickly approaching “Back to School” season. We have been busy ensuring proper inventories, and our in-house technical staff has been checking every instrument for final adjustments and tweaks. The Antigua –Backun clarinets are hitting dealerships nationwide and the response has been fantastic. I invite you to read through this quarter’s newsletter, and I encourage you to reach out to us with ANY questions, comments or concerns. We are excited about what is happening at Antigua, and if you haven’t taken a look at Antigua lately, please give us a call and let us be your partner! Antigua General Manager Grant Henry
2012 Product Spotlight Antigua F/Bb Double French horn
Noteworthy
Introduced in the Fall of 2011, the Antigua FH3310LQ double French horn has now been upgraded with CNC machined tapered rotors, bearings, and valve casings. This change improves the valve action and ensures the FH3310 French Horn will have a long life. The FH3310LQ features a Kruspe style wrap, full mechanical linkage with ball joints, rose brass mouthpipe with water key, medium throat rose brass bell with soldered rim, rose brass body tubing, nickel-silver slide tubes and ferrules, nickel-silver bracing and reversible change valve linkage to easily switch from F/Bb to Bb/F.
Congratulations to Tom Lee Music Co., Ltd of Vancouver, British Columbia, an Antigua dealer that has partnered with St. George’s School, a private boarding school for grades 1-12, also of Vancouver. Tom Lee Music Co., Ltd. is now the first dealer north or south of the Canadian/USA border to order 50 Antigua-Backun wooden clarinets (see featured article on the front cover of “Blowing in the Winds”, Vol. 1). This is indeed an early milestone as the instruments were not formally introduced until a few months ago at their presentation at the 2012 Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Our thanks to the fine people at Tom Lee, St. George’s School, Morrie Backun and his people, and the Antigua Sales Rep, Allan Ash, whom calls on dealers in Canada. Retail pricing for the CL3230S is, $1879.00
Upgrading to the CNC tapered rotors stopped production and deliveries for several months. We are placing larger orders now and expect deliveries in the Fall. Place your orders now! Finished in durable clear lacquer, the FH3310LQ is packaged with a deluxe fabric covered case. Retail pricing $2495.00. If you have any comments you would like to have included in this newsletter, call Randy Huey or Grant Henry at 800.661.6505 or email us at randy@antiguawinds.com or grant@antiguawinds.com
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2012 Trade & Educator Show notes A lighter show schedule in the second quarter found Antigua Winds participating in two shows during the second quarter, The Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference and the inaugural Musikmesse Russia. During July and August, look for Antigua at The World Sax Congress in St. Andrews, Scotland July 10th-15th; Texas Bandmaster’s Conference in San Antonio, TX, July 20th-23rd, Booths 541 & 640 ; and at ClarinetFest in Lincoln, NE, Aug. 1st-5th, Booth #72.
Students Mitchell Stover (tenor) & Molly Davis (alto) jamming.
Keouck bandmasters Woodie Brassil & Bob Soule
2012 Iowa Bandmasters Conference in Des Moines caught Antigua’s attention as we had not exhibited there for several years. Mike Maass, Antigua sales representative, suggested we participate as Antigua now has dealer stores in 7 Iowa communities. Maass manned the Antigua booth that featured Antigua Vosi, the Antigua TB3350LQ trombone with F attachment, and Antigua PRO horns. Antigua is well represented in Iowa by several outstanding dealers that include the following: Kephart’s Music Center in Decorah, Dubuque, and Mason City; Meister Music in Keokuk, North Star Music in Estherville and Spencer, and Uptempo Music in Des Moines.
Antigua Winds exhibited at Musikmesse Russia, held May 16th-19th in Moscow. Brand recognition for Antigua, both in the USA and abroad, remains a critical component of Antigua’s focus this year as we strive to increase consumer awareness of and requests for Antigua product by artists, educators, and students alike. Following are images from the Antigua booth at Musikmesse Russia:
antigua ads & insertion schedule Perhaps you saw some of our 2nd Quarter – 2012 ads in the trade publications. Antigua ads appeared in Music Trades, MMR, and SB &O with emphasis on the AntiguaBackun clarinet, PRO-One alto and tenor saxophones, & Antigua artists’ comments on our instruments. Look for third quarter Antigua ads in the following publications: Downbeat, The Instrumentalist, Music Trades, MMR, and SB&O.
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dealer Spotlight NAMM has recently released its winners list of the Top 100 Dealer Awards for 2012. Congratulations to these dealers for their well earned recognition. These dealers will be recognized at a gala event on Friday, July 13th at the Renaissance Nashville Grand Ballroom during the Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, Tennessee. This is the second year of these awards and is quickly becoming a prestigious award.
Meet Antigua SRs Serving Our Dealers devin pelton
Authorized Antigua dealers included on this year’s list are as follows: • Alamo Music Center located in San Antonio, Texas. A long-standing dealer in Texas was established in 1929 by Alfredo Flores, Jr. • Bertrand Music Enterprises, Inc. located in Mission Viejo, California. This well-known dealer was established by John Bertrand in 1983. • Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center is located in Wheaton, MD. This dealer was established by Chuck and Marge Levin in 1958 in Washington, D.C. • Instrumental Music Center, located in Tucson, Arizona. This dealer was opened in 1999 by Michael and Leslie Faltin and recently opened its second location in Tucson. • N Tune Music & Sound Inc. of Midland, Texas. The first store was opened in 2003 by Tim and Kelly Jones and now has opened stores in Abilene and Odessa, they have added 4 repair locations – all in 9 short years. • Progressive Music of McKeesport, PA. Founded in 1992, this highly recognized dealer has for 65 years made its core business the school music programs.
Devin Pelton serves dealers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania (Western), and West Virginia. Some of Devin’s thoughts:
“The best kept secret about Antigua is the playability of the gear right out of the box. It is unlike any brand I have been associated with in the past. Antigua takes great pride in the quality of all its’ lines and makes sure before it ships to the Dealer that they get even more than what is expected! I spent twelve years trying to justify the bench time required for each “new” instrument with another brand – not with Antigua! This saves vital repair shop time so they can do just that – repair used horns…Newly purchased instruments should be - well – um - new! See?! None of this stuff is brain surgery! Antigua gets it!” mike maass Mike Maass covers dealers in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Some thoughts from Mike:
• Schmitt Music Co. of Brooklyn Center, MN. The dealer opened its doors in 1896 and now is over 115 years old and it has had 4 generations of Schmitts at its helm. Provides 3,500 lessons per week at its 15 stores.
“I was trained as an instrumental music teacher but I fell in love with the music business while working at a music shop.
• Tarpley Music Co. Inc. of Amarillo, Texas. Being led by the fourth generation of Tarpleys, the four current locations in Lubbock, San Angelo and Clovis, New Mexico, service an enormous area of Texas and eastern NM.
Later, as a sales manager, I missed being out on the street where the action is with dealers, musicians and educators.
• The Music Store of Garland, Texas. This dealer opened its doors in March of 2005 under the direction of its owner Gary Pearce. One of its specialties is school music programs. More information on these top 100 dealers and other honorees may be found by entering namm.org in your favorite browser and clicking on the “Top 100 Dealer Awards” link. A list of all Authorized Antigua dealers may be found at www.antiguawinds.com under RESOURCES.
Best kept secrets about Antigua Winds...the Vosi line of school musical instruments is a secret kept from many young families who need a good value in a beginner instrument. These instruments are solid in design, are backed up with a 5-year warranty and are rentable at lower rates than so called “major brands”. The other secrets are Antigua background instruments. Great value for school purchase...euphonium, oboes, bass clarinets, baritone Saxes. Antigua can be a great resource for band directors who need to fill out their sections with newly designed instruments.” (continued…) www.antiguawinds.com | 3
Meet Antigua SRs Serving Our Dealers (cont.) Bill Tauer
Bill Tauer serves dealers in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Some shared thoughts from Bill:
“I knew that I wanted to be in the music business from an early age and later discovered that I did not want to perform so much, but rather work with people whom had a passion for music. Having spent over 33 years on the road calling on a great bunch of people who are former players, it just doesn’t get any better than this! A well-kept secret about Antigua is their pro-dealer orientation where offering friendly, professional and timely service to their dealers is a way of life. These people are driven, down-to-earth, and willing to go the extra mile to meet the needs of my customers.”
antigua endorsees/artists
kyle wolverton
Kyle Wolverton began his journey as a saxophone player at an early age as a member of his family band the Wolverton Family Sax Trio, cutting his teeth on traditional gospel music. His love of fusion jazz combined with R&B influences melded together to create his unique sound. Kyle studied Music at Pacific Union college and while there founded the Smooth Jazz-Fusion Band Similar Differences. After college, Kyle traveled throughout the South Pacific playing with many native
Randy Janoski
Randy Janoski has been with Antigua Winds since 2008. He began his affiliation after an extensive search for a new soprano saxophone – at Summer NAMM he purchased an Antigua soprano for himself, quickly followed by another for a music education program. In 2010 he changed over and began performing and recording with a new Antigua Power Bell alto saxophone. Randy has a diverse background as a saxophonist. He began on
acts which further broadened his musical horizons. Upon his return to the states, Kyle joined forces with Northern California’s premier blues band, “Marshall Law”. In 2001, Kyle located to Los Angeles and has since performed with a countless list of fantastic recording artists of all styles. Kyle recently released his debut solo project, “Soul Groove” and has been nominated for “Best New Artist of the Year”. Kyle began playing an Antigua horn when he picked up his TS3220 Series tenor some 14 years ago and has played it since. Recently he added another Antigua horn when he began playing his new Pro-One Tenor Saxophone that is now his saxophone of choice. Want to know more about Kyle? Go to www.kylewolverton. com, www.myspace.com/kylewolverton, or key Kyle Wolverton saxophonist into your favorite browser. alto at the age of 10 in France, by age 12 he was sitting in with jazz artists in Orleans and Paris. Beginning in his mid-teens he became a studio musician with Columbia, RCA and DECCA, first for rock horn bands of the 70’s, then country artists, followed by jazz groups, and legacy bands; to his own quartet today. Randy states “Looking back I wouldn’t have had it any other way”. Now located outside of Nashville, when time and schedule permit, Randy works with high schools and institutions of higher education presenting classes and workshops. “With the cutbacks and shrinking music programs in many secondary school programs I feel it’s vital for musicians to give back the gift that provided to us careers and livelihood.” Want to know more about Randy? Go to www.randyjanoski.com or key Randy Janoski saxophonist into your favorite browser.
antigua ARTISTS ON TOUR Catch Marcus Anderson (www.marcusanderson.net), Ray McCall & Aaron McCoy (www.whosbadmusic.com), and Steve Nieves (http://www.myspace.com/stevenieves) out on tour now! To see Antigua artist/ endorsee schedules see the inserted tour calendar or visit the artist’s websites. 4 | www.antiguawinds.com