Allied Supply

Craig Anderson is the General Manager for Allied Supply in Elkhorn, WI. Allied is the largest supplier of parts, tools and cases to the band instrument repair business and has been a cornerstone for the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), which was formed in 1976. Craig is keenly interested in furthering band instrument repair. Whether it be providing parts and tools or seeing that technicians get and are provided with the best education possible, Craig is involved. He takes great pride in preserving the history of band instrument man

Tom Getzen is president of the horn company his father established in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The Getzen Company is world renowned for the hand-made products such as trumpets and trombones and has introduced several innovative improvements to the instruments over the years. Tom’s father also helped create the National Association of Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), which for decades has sought to create standards in band instrument care and provide training classes and a monthly newsletter devoted to helping the repair techs.

Don Getzen sure knew the history of the band instruments made in the mid-west! Don’s father was the plant manager for the Holton Company in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, his oldest uncle was the plant manager for the York Band Instrument Company in Michigan and at the same time his other uncle was the plant manager for the CG Conn Company in Elkhart, Indiana. In 1939 Don’s father formed the Getzen Company where he and his brother Bob worked growing up. Don later established DEG Musical in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for which he designed several innovative products, two of which he held patents.

Christan Griego grew up surrounded by music. In fact, he did not have a television in his home as a child, but did have a piano! While in the school band during the sixth grade, Christan began playing the trombone, where his love of band and orchestra instruments began. As a child Christan visited Tarpley Music in Clovis, New Mexico, where he explored the repair shop. This inspired him to chose a career at Edwards Instrument Company in 1998. Working first in sales, he became a self taught product engineer.

Nick Rail was the visionary founder and dedicated president of the Southern California retail chain that proudly bore his name, starting in 1986. Nick began his career in 1974 as a talented and meticulous band instrument repairman at La Grandeur Music. Inspired by his hands-on experience and deep commitment to music education, he opened Nick Rail Music, a welcoming store devoted to supporting school band programs. Each location featured a full-service, expert repair department, reinforcing his passion for quality and service.

Dick Waldron came to music in a most unusual way.  His father was a house painter who completed a job only to find out the house owner did not have enough money to pay so he offered a cornet, to which Dick took a liking.  He played the horn during school and served in the US Navy at the tail end of World War II after which he took a job driving a truck.    He continued to play gigs at night and decided to enroll in the Allied Supply in band instrument repair.  He then opened his own repair shop in upstate New York.  Dick has been a long-time member of NAPBIRT missing only a few an