Band and Orchestra
Phil Passin began working for Carl Fischer in 1947 in the shipping department, where he took a deep interest in the industry. After serving in the US Army during the Korean War, Phil returned to Carl Fischer where he began working his way up in the company. When the company sold its interest in...
Stephen Wick, whose father is a well-regarded classical musician, grew up in a very musical home. What he discovered as a child that remains to this very day is that his father’s passion for music, transferred nicely over to him. Together they work in the company his father, Denis, established to...
Alun Hughes grew up in Wales, which has a very much musical community, which he became very active and interested. Playing saxophone, flute and clarinet, Alun realized at an early age that he wanted to have a career in the music industry. His first job within the industry was in the factory of...
Ron Manus is as passionate and focused as anyone in our industry. His interest in developing new music makers has much more to do with sharing what he personally knows as the benefits than making an extra dollar. In thinking of the passion of his parents, Morty and Iris, this way of thinking...
Bob Knight came into the music industry right after World War II and watched instruments slowly make their way back into the music stores. He was hired by CG Conn and enrolled in their band repair school, which was filled mostly with former soldiers, as Bob recalled. The Conn Company asked Bob to...
Connie Smith is the Vice President of Ward-Brodt Music in Madison, Wisconsin. She grew up in music and enjoyed playing music as a young girl, going on to study music in college. While in college she applied for an internship at Ward Brodt Music, where she has been ever since! She worked her way...
Michael Houser is the Chief Executive Officer for Cascio Interstate Music, which serves both as a brick and mortar store in New Berlin, Wisconsin as well as an internet store. The store was established by Frank Cascio, a professional accordion player, in 1951. Over the years the store has built an...
Gary Chen is the owner of Stein On Vine, the historic horn and string shop in Hollywood, California whose customer list reads like a who's who of jazz and film music. Gary was hired by the founder, Maury Stein, the brother of famed songwriter Julie Stein. Maury had developed a wonderful...
Tom Merritt is the general manager for The Music Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin and the right hand man for the company's president, Jim Paulsen. The two have worked side by side for several decades and both feel their main goals in business are to serve those who walk in the door. Customer service...
Jim Paulsen's father opened a small music store in Kenosha to focus on his instrument of choice, the accordion. When young Jim encouraged his father to expand into guitars, they started off slow, but soon began to grow. The Music Center today is a well-established retailer that covers the combo...