Hiscox Cases Appoints Musiquip
As U.S. Distributor
Musiquip Inc. has been appointed the new exclusive U.S. distributor for Hiscox Cases. Hiscox Cases, which are today sold in more than 20 countries worldwide, are constructed of a leather-textured high-impact ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadeine Styrene) hard plastic outer shell, bonded directly to an inner molding made from a blend of high-tech cellular foam. This semi-rigid inner molding is soft enough to cushion delicate instruments, but also firm enough to provide an overall structural rigidity. The brand offers cases for a wide variety of instruments, including numerous acoustic and electric guitar models, as well as alto and tenor saxophone, tenor horn, baritone, euphonium, violin, viola, cello and mandolin.

IMSO Names New Board
The iMSO independent retailer group announced it elected its officers and board during its June Summer NAMM meeting.
Officers are Gordon Wilcher, chairman/president; Jeff Simmons, vice president; Chris Basile, vice president of the iBuy Program; Kevin Damm, secretary; Maureen Johnson, treasurer.
Board members as follows: Wilcher, Simmons, Basile, Lisa Kirkwood, Kevin Damm, Donovan Bankhead, Bill Wagoner, Bob Campbell, Jim DeStafney, Matt Francioni, Johnson, Jeffrey Nixon. “I wish to thank past board members Harry Gillum, Don Ulrich, Dave Byers and Chris Lovell for the hard work and dedication. iMSO is excited about our newest class of board members and looks forward to working hard for our 470 registered members of this great coalition,” said Wilcher.

NAMM Offers Webinar On Lacey Act
NAMM announced that it provided important new compliance information specifically for luthiers and small-shop businesses that deal with shipping wooden instruments. New amendments to the Lacey Act have been instituted and NAMM is stressing the importance for these members, and all members dealing with wooden instruments, to understand and follow these new guidelines. On behalf of all of its members, NAMM hosted its second webinar on the subject June 25, called “Lacey—And More—For Luthiers.” The webinar was free to anyone interested in learning about the recently implemented Lacey Act compliance regulations to protect against the unlawful act of importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring or purchasing any plant, including wood, that was taken in violation of the law.
“During the recent Summer NAMM show, the association received requests from many small-shop luthiers and wood-using product manufacturers for an informational update regarding the recent amendments to the Lacey Act and looks these changes affect their businesses,” said Mary Luehrsen, director of public affairs and government relations.

Pioneer CDJ Digital Media
Players Work With Scratch Live
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. Professional Sound and Visual Division (Pioneer DJ) announced its collaboration with Serato Audio Research to ensure compatibility of the latest CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 professional series digital media players with the Scratch Live software. Pioneer’s CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 players (updated with firmware Version 3.10) will work in sync with the Scratch Live software Version 2.1 for intuitive, precise DJ performance using music files stored on a computer without the need for a timecode control disc.
“We’re enthusiastic in ensuring our products match what DJs are using for their performances and, since Scratch Live is one of the premier DJ software platforms today, we teamed up with Serato so that the advanced capabilities of our CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 multi-media players work seamlessly with their software,” said David Arevalo, senior marketing manager, Professional Sound and Visual Division for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.
The interface will allow DJs to operate the Scratch Live Version 2.1 software without the need for a timecode control disc. Scratch Live functions will automatically link to the corresponding buttons and keys of the CDJ-2000/900 players when a computer running the Serato software and official Rane hardware is connected through the players’ USB connection. In addition, functions such as tempo adjustment, play/cue and loop can be made without a computer keyboard or mouse

RS Berkeley Aids Fight Against Hunger
The Food Bank For New York City raised $1.4 million at its Eighth Annual Can-Do Awards Dinner, and commemorated 27 years of serving New Yorkers in need, at Abigail Kirshch’s Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers, Manhattan. RS Berkeley donated a Virtuoso Saxophone, signed by former U.S. President and saxophone enthusiast Bill Clinton. Endorser Andy Snitzer of Simon & Garfunkel was on hand to assist auctioneer Lydia Fenet of Christie’s. The signed saxophone contributed more than $11,000 to the evening’s festivities. The Can-Do Awards Dinner is instrumental in helping to provide support for the 1.3 million New Yorkers who rely on soup kitchens and food pantries to survive. Every dollar donated to the Food Bank helps provide five meals. The number of New York City residents having difficulty affording needed food is 3.3 million, a 60 percent increase since 2003—and representing 40 percent of all New York City residents.

Joe Lamond Receives Conn-Selmer Institute Award
Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM, was bestowed the honor of being the charter member of the Conn-Selmer Institute (CSI) Hall of Fame in recognition of his meritorious contribution to music education after his keynote address at this educational event in June. Joe Lamond is an accomplished professional percussionist. The award was a miniature version of a Ludwig classic hickory drum shell with a signature plaque alongside internationally recognized historical Ludwig badges. For the past 12 years, the Conn-Selmer Institute has been involved in music education support. Designed to enrich and renew a commitment to the highest quality of music education, this Conn-Selmer educational program counts leaders in education and many industries as supporters.
“This is such an important chapter in the ongoing journey of mutual cooperation to align the collective efforts and energies of the music industry and music education,” said John Stoner, president and CEO of Conn-Selmer Inc. “Joe Lamond continues to be an exemplary leader for all of us in working toward this important goal.” Under Lamond’s leadership since 2001, the association’s resources have grown significantly, enabling NAMM to invest in research, grants and market-building programs more than at any time in the association’s history.

DSkip’s Music Helps Find Potential ‘Glee’ Cast Member
Skip’s Music and Central Valley FOX network affiliate KTXL FOX40, along with local radio station Y 92.5, held auditions for the hit show “Glee” at Sacramento’s Arden Fair Mall. Out of the hundreds of hopeful young singers, dancers and actors who lined up around the upper deck of the more than one-million-square-foot mall, only 40 contestants were chosen as finalists, with just one of those 40 going on to make an audition tape to be seen by the producers of “Glee.”
Skip’s Music provided expert judges for the event, along with all of the live sound equipment and background music for the contestants. Head judge of the event, and Skip’s director of education, Larisa Bryski noted, “It was an incredible turnout, and so awesome to experience so much local talent all in one place at one time. It was hard picking a winner, but I’m confident that we found someone who the producers of ‘Glee’ will really like.”

Music & Arts Names ‘Give The Gift Of Music’ Winners
Music & Arts announced the selection of winning essays for its annual “Give the Gift of Music” Band Contest and “Give the Gift of Music” Orchestra Contest. Middle school students were invited to write essays describing how their director inspired them musically. Essays were judged based on their ability to illustrate the director’s leadership, quality of instruction, compassion, empathy and dedication to students. Aarzu Maknojia from Seabrook Intermediate School in Seabrook, Texas, won first place in the band contest for the essay describing band director Matthey McCoy. Seabrook Intermediate School will receive six Jupiter flutes, six Jupiter trumpets, six Jupiter clarinets, four Jupiter trombones, four Jupiter alto saxophones and two Jupiter tenor saxophones, a package valued at $27,350. Maknojia also received a $500 Music & Arts lesson scholarship.
The grand prize in the orchestra contest was awarded to Andrea Brooks and McDevitt Middle School in Waltham, Mass. McDevitt Middle School will receive three Otto Benjamin by Eastman violins, two Otto Benjamin by Eastman violas, two Otto Benjamin by Eastman cellos and an Otto Benjamin by Eastman string bass, a prize valued at $20,742. Brooks also received a $500 Music & Arts lesson scholarship for her winning essay. Music & Arts will host another “Give the Gift of Music” competition in the fall.

Daddy’s Hosts 3rd Annual ‘Battle For Berklee’
Terry Breese, one half of the well-known Huber & Breese team, passed away last month. He was 61. Funeral services took place in Richmond, Mich., on May 14. Breese co-owned Huber & Breese in Fraser, Mich., for nearly 40 years.
Huber & Breese won several Music & Sound Awards. This past year, the store was nominated for Best Sales Staff and Best Customer Service.

“Music was his life,” Breese’s longtime friend, business partner and guitar instructor Paul Huber told the Detroit Free Press. “He served as an inspiration for untold numbers of budding mus`icians through his dedicated instruction and love for music in general….In the beginning, Terry was more interested in teaching the students. But as time wore on, he became more focused on the retail aspect of the business and did more of the bookwork and paying the bills.”