Highlights and Interesting Events Weathers Music

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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This article originally appeared on the original Salem Online History site and has not been updated since 2006.