Women in the Music Industry

After 40 years in business, dealing with almost every brand and every manufacturer, Camille says she still enjoys the thrill of finding the perfect piano to suit her customers’ needs. And, the psychology of the sale presents a new and inspiring challenge every day!

Barbara Scheuch-Vötterle is one of five children of Karl Vötterle who founded the Bärenreiter-Verlag in 1923. After the death of her father 1975, Barbara took over the company and with her husband Leonhard Scheuch they expanded on the publishing house’s international reputation and modernized Bärenreiter. The company is world-renowned for its Complete Editions and urtext editions of composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  

Elianne Schiedmayer proudly serves as the CEO of the Schiedmayer company. Since 1735 Schiedmayer has been at the service of music, building keyboard instruments of the highest craft. In 1809 the company settled in Stuttgart, Germany, and quickly gained worldwide reputation for its pianos and harmoniums. Schiedmayer started manufacturing the celesta as early as 1890, four years after Victor Mustel has invented and patented this new orchestra instrument. In 1980 the company decided to cease piano production and to focus completely on the celesta. When her husband passed away unexpec

Sally Schiff and her husband Mel moved from New York to Florida where they decided to open their own music retail business.  All County Music in Tamarac, Florida first opened in 1976 with a strong focus on band and orchestra music and repair.  Sally ran the store while Mel went out to call on the school band directors.  She was so proud when their children worked in the store including their son, Fred, who later took over as president of the company.

Viola Schimmel proudly recalls the mantra of her great grandfather, the founder of Schimmel Pianos, “Quality will prevail.” These words provide motivation, understanding, and guidance for her and her team as they continue the rich tradition of piano building. The company was formed in 1885 and has since gained a strong reputation around the world for consistency and high-quality instruments. Under her leadership, the company has expanded their partnerships and have taken on new and innovative designs, while proving that quality will prevail. 

Carola Schlegel is director of the International Instrumental Competition in Markneukrichen. This juried contest is held every year with the alteration of string and wind instruments. As a representative of the city of Markneukirchen, Carola Schlegel is not only responsible for the competition but also organizes the recognition of the largest playable violin in the Guiness Book of World Records created in Markneukirchen by 12 local luthiers. She tirelessly works to make the history and vibrant presence of the music instrument makers of Markneukirchen known worldwide. The region is

Joyce Schmauder says that her favorite part about volunteering at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music is the people. From the young kids to the seniors, Joyce enjoys interacting with all of them and talking about making music. She has always liked music and remembers listening to her mother play piano when she was young. She was given the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2014. Joyce believes that the museum is a place where connections and friendships are formed and says that it’s all because of the music.

Dr. Susanne Schnitzer shares her memories growing up in the Kirschnek family. Grandfather Franz Krischnek, founder of Kirschnek String Instruments, was a businessman with worldwide connections (many of them to the United States) while his daughter Ilse Fischer managed the rest. She took the children on daily errands through Bubenreuth center of the Schönbach luthiers after 1945. Susanne remembers going to the Framus Music Kindergarten and picking tone woods with her mom. She studied to become a doctor of medicine, has her own medical practice, and at the same time is the right han

Gina Schock has an energy about her that is extremely infectious and brings a smile to the faces of those around her. Gina grew up in Baltimore and after trying and discarding the guitar and piano, Gina hit her stride with drums, learning by playing along to the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Before long, Gina was gigging with local bands. Looking to make a change, Gina packed up and headed west, landing in Los Angeles. She quickly hooked up with the Go-Gos and through her work ethic and drive, helped bring the band to the forefront of the LA scene.

Barb Schotanus learned the clarinet while in the Catholic Band Program as a young girl. She enjoyed the program so much that she earned her music education degree at DePaul University and became a Band Director. In 2003 she joined the Piano Trend Music Company team becoming a music teacher and the store manager. Among her responsibilities are scheduling and running the store’s lesson programs, which links her right back to the early days of her career, a process she greatly enjoys.

Dorothy Schwartz was one of the original members of a girls Barber Shop style group that was brainchild of a girlfriend from high school in her hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The group called themselves The Chordettes. Dorothy traveled with the group performing at Barber Shop fairs and programs around the country. At one point they gained the attention of Arthur Godfrey who signed the girls to perform on his television program. They stayed with Mr. Godfrey for three years before Dorothy decided to return home to raise her family. Dorothy was replaced and just a few months later

Lynn Scull is the daughter-in-law of Bert and Isabell Scull, who formed the now historic Scull Groups to serve music retailers throughout the United States. Lynn married the Scull’s son Russell and became part of the family in 1974. She witnessed first-hand the devotion Bert and Isabell had towards their musical retail clients. Lynn also points out that the Scull’s had several other customers for their CPA firm, including retailers in the jewelry, furniture and lady’s apparel industries.

Ursula Seiler is president of the piano company formed by her late husband’s family. The Seiler Piano Company of Kitzinger, Germany has an extensive history of producing well-respected and innovative products. The family traditions continue within the company with Ursula’s daughter, Manuella, working alongside her mother.  

Cheryl Seppala has given the gift of music to countless students in her organ store over her career. She has never lost that spark in her eye that has encouraged her students to stay with the lessons and enjoy the benefits of making music. She began teaching when she was a teenager at Ozzie’s Music in San Diego. In 1978, she and her husband opened a small retail store called the Organ Stop. There, she continued with group and individual lessons and selling the top-quality home organs such as Conn and Lowrey.

Peggy Sexton and her husband, Bob, formed Tactus Press to publish books on early percussion. Peggy’s passion for research and the social history surrounding the development of musical instruments added a captivating aspect to their publications. Their first book was “Castanuelas Ole! A book about Castanets.” Bob created the graphic designs and layout of the books. Peggy wrote under the name “Taboust”, remarking that if musical scholars did not know who wrote the book, they were forced to read it before they judged its content and research. Bob passed away in 2000 and Peggy passed

Maryann Sfarzo has always loved singing! She is fondly remembered in the Baldwin NAMM booth alongside Lowell Simpson as Mr. & Mrs. Baldwin. The two entertained attendees with songs as Lowell played the latest Baldwin product. With her husband, Ron, the couple opened a music store in San Francisco and currently own Nicola Strings along with their son Chris. Maryann and Ron proudly perform together whenever they can, creating a cabaret act that they started before the 2020 pandemic, and have since resumed!

Shawna Shaner is the store manager and controller for Robert M. Sides Music stores in Pennsylvania and New York. With a fascinating background in medicine and law, Shawna grew up in a third-generation business where she learned to wear many hats. Overseeing accounting and managing the money was of great interest to her, which is why she applied and received the position of controller for the Sides chain of music stores.

Shantaia is a country singer-songwriter originally from Saskatchewan and now making waves in Nashville, Tennessee. She began performing at a young age and wrote her first song at just nine years old to process the heartbreaking loss of her beloved great-grandfather. That moment sparked a lifelong connection to songwriting as a way to explore her emotions and tell her story. Classically trained in voice and inspired to pick up the guitar by her older brother, Shantaia has grown into a dynamic performer and heartfelt storyteller. She’s played major Canadian festivals, opened for Kan

Billy Shaw and his wife Donna opened Desert Piano in Palm Springs after working in a series of piano sales jobs, including one at Colton Piano where the couple met. Billy is well known in the industry as a creative salesman and the inventor of the Piano Bar, which was introduced in the 1980s. He also created a series of promotional programs and sales campaigns, several of which are still being used by piano retail stores around the country. One of his most noted programs was based on the Three Bears story and relating it to a range of keyboard products he was selling. Billy began

DJ She Beatz was raised in St. Louis, Missouri by parents who deeply appreciated music. She began performing at an early age as a dancer, singer, and pianist.

Joyce Shelven was a factory worker for the Gibson Guitar Company when it was located in Kalamazoon, Michigan.  She was hired in 1947 just after the war and began working in the sanding department.  Joyce worked both the belt sanders as well as the hand sanders before she left the company in 1964.  During her years at the company she made several friends, which led to her yearly participation in the Gibson Reunions in Kalamazoo, which began in the 1980s.

Phee Sherline brought her passion for music to NAMM’s Museum of Making Music a docent and gallery attendant. She was a young adult when the Folk Music boom occurred during the 1960s and 70s. She was taken by the close harmonies and the stories each song told. She was drawn to the guitar and formed a duo with her husband, often billed as Ken & Phee. They recorded together and played at many clubs and festivals. She was very involved in the Folk Music Songmaker’s Group in the Los Angeles area, which promotes the musical style and brings fans and performers together for special e

Rose Shure took over ownership of Shure Incorporated after her husband Sidney N. Shure died in 1995. With her great understanding of the products and office policies (having been employed there herself since 1949), She was able to not only continue the pace that her husband started, but expand and develop the company into a new era of technology. Under her direction the company expanded their product line to include wireless systems and personal monitors.  

Ruth Sibley Bensinger wrote a song called “So Long Sweetheart” when she was a teenager.  The song was about lovers split by war.  Members of her musically inclined family thought the song was quite promising.  Ruth decided to walk the song over to Fred Waring’s home, whom she had met once through her bandleader father.  Mr. Waring, the king of choral music and leader of the Pennsylvania Vocal Group, liked the song and later had his group perform it several times.  The song led to several jobs for Ruth over the years with Mr. Waring, including one with his music publishing company,

Carol Sides married into the Robert M. Sides Music Center family in the 1960s and soon became an important part of the company’s educational programs and music therapy activity. She worked long and hard to build up the local community bands and symphony orchestra as well as creating support for the music events in her community. Carol worked along side her husband, Pete, and later their two children, Alysha and Peter, who run the company today.  

Alysha Sides-Greevy grew up in the music store that her grandfather established in 1937 and has enjoyed working in music retail along side her parents and brother. The Robert M. Sides Music Center began in Williamsport, Pennsylvania when her grandfather tuned and sold pianos out of his home. Alysha’s parents ran the store during the late 1960s up until she and her brother became active in the business. She also served on the NAMM Board as the head of NAYMM and has been active with music programs within her community.  

Jodi Siegel grew up in a musical family and developed a passion for music at a young age. Jodi started playing the ukulele because of its size but quickly moved onto the guitar. A big influence for her was Duane Allman, whom she would try to figure out how to replicate the sound of without realizing he was playing the slide guitar. Jodi released a solo recording called Stepping Stone in 2007 produced by Tony Braunagel and Terry Wilson.

Lillian Siegh played a vital role in the inner workings of NAMM for over 35 years! William Gard hired Lillian as a secretary in 1949 and for a time she was the office manager before becoming Mr. Gard’s executive secretary. She helped plan many of NAMM’s events and was instrumental in the parties during the NAMM show including the memorable finale evening banquet. After Mr. Gard’s retirement in 1981, she became Larry Linkin’s assistant. She retired when NAMM’s headquarters was moved from Chicago to Carlsbad, CA, in 1984.  

Lieselotte Sievers is the granddaughter of Mr. Breitkopf of the famous Breitkopf & Hartel music publishing company in Wiesbaden, Germany. The historic publisher is known around the world for composers such as Bach, yet Mrs. Sievers is equally proud of the contemporary composers the company has published over the last 50 years. Her attention to the company’s past and her vision for the future have been a strong part of the company’s success; however she would be quick to point out that her employees’ pride and dedication are also key elements to their success.  

Deanie Sigafoos began working for Prosser Piano when it was located on 6th Avenue in Tacoma, Washington. She recalls meeting the owners, Laurie and Duane Prosser, and how a close friendship seemed to have started immediately. This was 1969 and in all Deanie stayed with the store for 32 years, enjoying every minute of it. The special promotions and sales are fun memories for her, but the most meaningful memories for Deanie come from feeling like part of the Prosser family. She watched the family grow and even babysat for the soon to be next generation of owners, sons Kevin and Kerr

Barbara Siler is the Assistant Director of Bands at Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Schools, a small but growing school system. She teaches grades six through twelve. At the beginning of her career, she served as a long-term substitute teacher. Here, she talks about the interview process for music educators in her district.

Lisa Silver likes to joke that in country bands she plays the fiddle, and in classical music performances she plays the violin. Yet she is talking about her one instrument! Her father was a high school music teacher in Detroit, Michigan, where he was trained in Classical Music. As a teenager she developed a love of Country music and joined a honky-tonk band, which in 1972 moved to Nashville in search of their big break. There Lisa was hired by Buddy Spicher and began working in recording studios as both a violinist and vocalist. As a backup vocalist Lisa can be heard on such 1970s