Oral History Interviews

Keith Jorgensen opened a piano-focused retail store in the Salt Lake City area that would grow to 13 stores in three states!  Keith Jorgensen's Music stores were all run by Keith until his retirement when his children took over.  During his long career, Keith was a retail leader who created several influential sales and marketing programs, especially those related to home organ sales in the 1970s. Keith later served on the NAMM Board of Directors and was heavily involved with music education. He passed away in July 2022 at the age of 88 after a full and happy life in music.

Charles Traeger had an impressive reputation in the world of bass making and bass restoration.  His long career began when he was a musician in the big band era looking for someone who could help with his own instrument.  He learned all he could and noticed there was a real need for literature for repairing and restoring double basses.  He created the Traeger Principal that says that all elements of the bass vibrate and thus play a role, however large or small, in the sound of the instrument.  Chuck dedicated his entire career to improving that sound! He passed away in the Fall of

Al Rinaldi was the first person ever to receive the Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to him in 2012.  Al never worked for the piano manufacturer nor did he work for any of it's sister companies.  Al was a Steinway dealer in Philadelphia, who in fact was turned down from being a dealer when he first requested it.  Al was an unknown retailer to the Steinway Company in those days even though he owned piano & organ leased departments at Gimbels, Strawbridge and Clothier, and John Wannamaker’s.  When he purchased Jacobs Music in downtown Philly, he carried sever

DJ Cash Money, one of the most famous Hip Hop DJs, hailing from Philadelphia, he began spinning records as a kid and soon found his musical expression by creating dance mixes for his friends and neighbors. He strived to create his own style and a different sound for Philly DJs.  Along side his MC, DJ Cash Money & Marvelous created hits such as "The Mighty Hard Rocker" and "All the Ugly People Be Quiet". Of the many DJ battles he has won, his most cherished title is that of 1988 DMC World Champion. He is credited for having a hand in developing the Transformer Scratch.

Caroline Bienstock was a respected music publisher, attorney and business leader who carried forward one of the music industry’s most distinguished family legacies. A native of New York City, she was the daughter of legendary music publisher Freddy Bienstock and Miriam Bienstock, one of the original founders of Atlantic Records. Her father established Carlin America, naming the company in honor of Caroline, and built a catalog that played an important role in popular and rock music beginning in the 1950s. Freddy was also closely associated with Elvis Presley, presenting song demos

Karen Wojcik began working for Selmer in 1973 and watched the company change hands but stayed with the same company for her entire career.  She works in the office for Conn-Selmer in Elkhart and has witnessed some great changes with the use of computers and later the Internet.  Her role in assisting the customer in getting the product they want in a timely matter is among the favorite aspects of her job, as well as the people she works with, both in and out of the company.

Tony Whitt began his career in the industry with the Linton oboe company in Elkhart, Indianan.  He later began working for Gemeinhart, which has been where he has been for most of his 52 plus years in the industry.  At the time of his mini interview, Tony was working in finishing and final assembly of the flutes for Gemeinhart.

Paula Walker began working in the music industry right out of high school for the Gemeinhart flute company in Elkhart, Indiana.  In the early years she worked primarily on student instruments for Gemeinhart, which provided products designed especially for younger students.  Her attention to detail became an important part of the process of assembling the instruments that required extra reinforcement and playability.  She later joined the Conn-Selmer company where she continued to work in the factory.

Tommy Tompkins began working for CG Conn in Elkhart, Indiana right after high school.  He worked in a variety of positions within the company before his training and certification on waste water management.  Tommy, like so many of the factory workers at Conn-Selmer, enjoys working with his co-workers and being involved in making musical instruments for others to make music from.

Terry Taylor has worked in the music industry his entire career.  After his service in the Marine Corp, Terry began working for CG Conn in the factory in Elkhart, Indiana.  He later worked for Armstrong flutes before they merged with Selmer.  Terry takes pride in his hands on work and the fact that the instruments he is making will soon make music for someone else.

Kent Stutzman was hired by Gemeinhart in the 1970s and has remained with the flute builder for over 35 years!  During his career, Kent has worked in several positions on the line as well as in buffing and final assembly.  Among the things he is most proud of is the craftsmanship of his job and the people he has worked with over the years.

Tony Spano began repairing instruments in high school and was perfect for the job as a retail store repairmen, which he started doing in Ohio after the army in 1957.  He later worked with CG Conn and then with Gemeinhart, both in Elkhart, Indiana.  His focus in much of his work has centered around the design, building, researching and assembling of flutes!

Nancy Singleton began working for the Armstrong flute company in Elkhart, Indiana in the 1970s.  She was trained on hand work and later trained others  in the factory.  Nancy stayed on with the company as it merged and changed names over the years, first with UMI then most recently with Conn-Selmer.

Roger Shelton was hired by the Armstrong Flute Company and stayed on with the company when it merged with Selmer and later with Conn.  Like so many of the factory workers in the plant, Roger takes great pride in the craftsmanship and skills he brings to the process of making musical instruments.

Jack Shanholt began working for Selmer in Elkhart, Indiana in the factory.  He was proud of his training, from the veteran craftsmen at the time, which is a tradition continued to this day.  In fact, Jack has trained several younger employees over the years.  As a musician and former band member in school, Jack adds a special set of skills to the process of instrument building and assembly, a fact of which he is proud.

Judy Rinehart began working for the Selmer Company in Elkhart, Indiana in the 1970s.  Her work at the time was very precise hand work, which changed over the years with the advent of the CNC machines, but was never fully replaced by machines. With the goal of creating quality musical instruments, the Conn-Selmer Company has used the skills of their work force, including Judy, to ensure the best instrument possible!

Sandy Peffley was hired by her uncle who owned the Armstrong Flute Company, when Sandy was just out of high school.  She stayed with the company when it was sold to Selmer and again when it merged with Conn in 2003.  Like so many factory workers in the plant, Sandy enjoys the precision work of the process of putting musical instruments together and the idea that soon someone will make music from her hard work.

Naomi Peer recalls the days Danny Henkin brought the CG Conn Company back to Elkhart, Indiana in the 1980s, which is when she first began working for the company.  She stayed on during the merge with Selmer in 2003 and has witnessed many changes within the industry.  As an office worker, Naomi feels the biggest change to the business has been the computer!

Tom Ott began training in the tool and die business right after high school at which point he was hired by the CG Conn Company in Elkhart, Indiana to work in the factory.  Tom has been there ever since!  Tom’s work has been focused on making jigs, dies and machine tools for the process of musical instrument building and assembly.  Along the way he has also designed dies for the company and been involved with creating workflows to improve the speed of the process and the quality of the products.

Peggy Morse began working in the music industry right out of high school for the Selmer Company in Elkhart, Indiana. Peggy has worked in the factory for most of her career and stayed with the company when it merged with Conn in 2003.

Jonathan Montel has worked on the bench in the factory at Selmer in Elkhart for over 40 years!  He has worked in many positions during his career with a special concentration on oboes, clarinets and bassoons.  He has also seen many changes to the process of instrument making, including the first CNC machines.

Judy Monk began working for the Armstrong Flute Company before it was purchased by Selmer and moved to a new building in Elkhart in 1975.  She has been with Selmer ever since.  Judy has worked primarily in corking musical instruments and enjoys her job as well as the people she has worked with over the years.

Jim D’Addario has worked long and hard within the research and development arm of D'Addario & Co., along with his brother John Jr. Headed by Jim, the engineering department has accumulated many important manufacturing and product patents in the field of music strings and musical accessories. He also helped expand the product line by important acquisitions, such as Evans Drumheads (1995) Planet Waves (1998), HQ Practice Products and Rico Reeds (both in 2004). Jim also has a strong interest in the history of not only his family and the family business but the background of the c

Steve Lynn began working with his brother in 1974, finishing flutes for the Gemeinhart Company in Elkhart, Indiana.  Three years later he joined the Armstrong Company as an experienced finisher.  He worked with legendary flute maker Emerson DeFord for a few years before joining Gemeinhart again and later with the Conn-Selmer Company as a manager in the stock room.  More recently Steve has been in the planning and scheduling for the Conn-Selmer plant.

Tom Lacy began working for Armstrong flutes right out of high school in 1971 in the very plant he is working some 40 years later for the Conn-Selmer Company in Elkhart, Indiana.  Along the way, Tom built his own flutes for several years before joining UMI and later Conn-Selmer.  During his long career, Tom has always focused on the design, building and assembly of flutes and takes pride in the role his work has played in allowing others to make music.

Lorna Kirchner has worked for Selmer, now Conn-Selmer, in Elkhart for over 40 years.  She recalls the days before the CNC machines came into the factory, when all of the work was done by hand.  Her attention to details and skills at soldering continue to be used in making musical instruments and ensuring the best quality possible.

Rick Hesch began working in the music industry right out of high school for the Selmer Company in Elkhart, Indiana. Rick has been a dedicated factory worker who has learned many skills throughout the plant.  He recalled his early days of training when a mentor was assigned to sit down with him and taught him on the job the skills he needed to know.  In time, Rick did the same for newer employees as well.

Kenneth Glore began working for Bach in the saxophone department before working for Linton on oboes and then off to Armstrong flutes that was later bought by Selmer.  He has been with Conn-Selmer ever since.  In all, he has been in the industry for over 50 years and has enjoyed his work in the factories very much.

Tom Fischer worked for the Gemeinhart flute company in Elkhart, Indiana for over 25 years.  Tom was part of the factory workers team and contributed his hand-craftsmenship to the assembly of both student and professional level flutes.  He later joined the Conn-Selmer Company where he continued to work on the bench building horns.

Karen Feltz was one of the voices of Conn-Selmer as she serves in the customer service department.  She joined Selmer right out of high school and has worked for the company for over 40 years.  Music dealers around the world know Karen for her dedication to finding answers to their questions and for following up on their requests.