VOTE

Dealer Ballot

Manufacturer/Rep Ballot

Votes will be accepted until Monday, January 4, 2016.

Casio America, Inc.

“For decades, Casio has been committed to providing educators and students with quality electronic musical instruments to inspire a passion to learn and love music in and out of the classroom. Music education inspires creativity and fosters critical thinking among students not only in the arts, but also across all categories of learning. Research-based evidence of music’s vital impact on development drives our commitment to create quality instruments and features that make learning fun, while not straining an educator’s budget.”
—Stephen Schmidt, VP, Casio’s Electronic Musical Instrument Division

D’Addario & Co., Inc.

“On behalf of the D’Addario Foundation—and the very generous D’Addario & Co., Inc., which has made our work possible for more than 30 years—it is an honor to be nominated for The Music & Sound Retailer’s Community Service Award. As grant makers, we support the best organizations on the frontline of the battle to improve access to music education. It is our mission to eliminate the inequality that exists and to deliver quality, consistent opportunities for self-expression through music in underserved communities around the world. Starting this year, we are embarking on an awareness and fundraising campaign to increase our scale and impact. We believe strongly in our ability to identify and partner with the most transformative programs serving communities with the greatest need. So, acknowledgement from our industry—and a publication like The Music & Sound Retailer—is very meaningful. Thank you.”
—Suzanne D’Addario Brouder, Executive Director, D’Addario Foundation

Hal Leonard Corp.

“We’re very proud of our association with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. We helped them start an after-school music program. A lot of our employees would leave the office for a few hours to teach music to kids who, otherwise, might not have had the chance. That program is now used as a model nationwide for other Boys and Girls programs. This year, our Chairman, Keith Mardak, and his wife (and former VP at Hal Leonard), Mary Vandenberg, established the MarVan Scholars for the Boys and Girls Club—an extended learning day program—in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Schools. It was the largest donation in recent BGCGM history. In addition to that relationship, we’ve been a proud sponsor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Guitars for Vets program. We’re always happy to help programs that bring the joy of making music to more people!”
—Larry Morton, President, Hal Leonard

Yamaha Corp. of America

“We are humbled by this nomination for Outstanding Community Service Award. Along with our charitable initiative Yamaha Cares, we are dedicated to promoting education, arts, health and human services, and community development, as well as to spreading the gift of music to people throughout the U.S. To have our peers recognize Yamaha for this award is greatly appreciated, as we strive to increase the quality of life for everyone we touch.”
—Dave Jewell, Marketing 
Communications Manager, Yamaha Corp. of America