User:Spambobcp/Meadowood Music

Meadowood Music is a single-location musical instrument retail store in the United States that specializes in stringed musical instruments. Meadowood began operations on March 4, 2000 on Main Street in Kutztown, PA. The store focuses on sales, repair and restoration of acoustic stringed instruments and instruction on them. In May of 2005, Meadowood relocated to it’s present and only location on route 222 in Blandon, PA.

History
The store began as the dream of Mike Andrews and his wife, Paula Taylor who performed (and continue to perform) as a acoustic duo, “Mike & Paula.” In 1995, Andrews was a Master Electrician and amateur violin-builder and instrument repairman and Taylor was an Engineering Consultant. Both were ready to change careers and, after many discussions, decided to create a shop where Andrews could build violins and the couple could sell & repair other stringed musical instruments. Over the next five years, they developed a business plan, lined up suppliers and opened their business in a rented storefront in Kutztown, PA. After five years in business, Meadowood relocated to an old stone farmhouse that is its present location.

Business Activities
Meadowood’s owners staff the store themselves, making Meadowood a ‘Mom and Pop’ business that is also a nationally recognized source of acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins , banjos , dulcimers, violins, violas, celli and basses (Meadowood has been a Martin Guitar premier “Marquis” dealer since 2000, and was in Breedlove Guitars’ top 25 dealers by 2004 ). Mike Andrews, who continues to develop his building skills under the mentorship of Christopher Germain, accepts commissions to hand-build violins.

Fostering Live Muic
Meadowood hosts concerts and clinics with national and international artists which have included Robin Bullock, Ken Kolodner , Laura Risk , Mark Cosgrove , Rich Starkey   and Richard Gilewitz. Meadowood hosts weekly jam sessions and monthly open mics for local musicians and cosponsors concerts with local venues including the Acoustic Roadshow on BCTV, Godfrey Daniels  , Landhaven   and the Half Moon Cafe  (part of the Clay on Main complex).

Meadowood sponsors a scholarship - The Ronald C. Hamsher Guitar Scholarship - that awards one recipient an entire year of guitar instruction, all instructional materials and the use of a guitar. The application period for the scholarship is open from June 1 through November 1 each year. The scholarship award is on December 15 of each year (more details about the scholarship  and applications  are available at Meadowood’s web site ).

Affiliations
Meadowood is a member of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and the Independent Music Retailers Association (IMRA). Mike Andrews is a Member of the Violin Society of America (VSA).

(1)http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=64883