Band and Orchestra
Angela Koregelos grew up playing the flute and taking lessons from her father, George Koregelos. George owned his own retail store and Angela has fond memories of working alongside her father. George also founded Koregelos Flutes, as well as HW Products. Angela went on to study flute at the New...
Matt Milldebrandt feels privileged to play a pivotal role in bringing a child their first musical instrument. Matt had desires to become a band director in his youth and found his long career at Milano Music to be just as satisfying in terms of his role in encouraging music within the lives of...
Dave Helms is the owner of Muncie Music Center. He joined the store right out of high school and had the opportunity to purchase the business in the early 2000s. By 2012, Dave was underway in designing a new building for the store, which is complete with teaching studios, a band repair shop, as...
Joan White began her career with Muncie Music Center in 1944, just three years after the store opened. She remained with the store until her retirement in 2016. Although she started by organizing the sheet music department, Joan (pronounced Jo-Ann) assisted with all areas of the business. One of...
Jeff Shrieve was playing drums in a rock band during the 1960s when he was offered a job at Muncie Music Center. Jeff was hired in 1968 and became one of the store's three road reps calling on local school band directors. Jeff was taught band instrument repair in the early part of his career and...
Russell Hill first met Ziggy Coyle in 1957 when the famed retailer hired Russ to help with the business side of the company. Ziggy and Russ made a wonderful team as Russ minded the numbers while Ziggy was out playing and promoting the store. The company grew to several locations throughout Ohio...
John Trakas was hired by Ziggy Coyle to serve in the store's accounting department. John grew in the company over the years as did the store, which had multiple locations throughout the Ohio area. During his NAMM Oral History interview, John spoke about Ziggy's background and strengths as a band...
Mark Gifford was a band instrument repairman before he joined the King Band Instrument Company, now known as Conn-Selmer. The factory, located outside of Cleveland, Ohio produces a long line of brass instruments, some of which Mark had a hand in designing. The reputation of the company, which...
John Stavash and his sister took over the music company their parents established in the early 1950s. John recalls the first milestone of the business was when it moved out of the family home into a real store front. Over the years, he has been instrumental in growing the product line as well as ...
Pete Cumming began playing a King trombone as a student, never dreaming he would one day work for the company. Growing up outside of Cleveland, Ohio, not far from the King factory, Pete knew much about the famous instruments. After college he briefly worked in the field of Architecture. His...