Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. Announces Organizational Changes
BUENA PARK, Calif. Yamaha Corporation of America announces several key personnel changes within Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. (YASI) in New York. Stan Zielinski, former director of artist services, has transferred to Yamaha Artist Services Europe (YASE) in Paris, France.
Located at 689 Fifth Avenue, the 15,000 square foot, state-of-the art Yamaha Artist Services facility houses the country's largest concentration of Yamaha CFIIIS nine-foot concert grand pianos the choice of prominent artists and concert stages around the world. In addition to an outstanding collection of instruments, the facility offers unparalleled rehearsal, performance and recording facilities to emerging and established artists.
Zielinski reports directly to Mr. Oike, President of Yamaha Musical Instruments Europe (YMHE) and is responsible for the company's relationships with the continent's foremost classical pianists and performing arts organizations. James Steeber, who has held the position of artist services coordinator for several years, has replaced Zielinski as acting director.
"Since the facility's launch three years ago, Yamaha Artist Services has enjoyed impressive growth as a premiere venue for outstanding musical performance and pedagogy," said Terry Lewis, executive vice president, Yamaha Corporation of America, Music Marketing Group. "Stan's strong product knowledge, artistic expertise and relationships with artists have been integral to this success."
A native of Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, Steeber had his first piano lesson at the age of five. He moved to Ohio in 1970, where his piano education was supplemented by Hebrew and Talmudic studies.
After graduating from Ohio University as an English major/Music minor, he quickly established a career as a pianist for modern dance, leaning on his extensive ability as an improviser. In 1985, Steeber moved to New York City, forging relationships throughout the performing arts world as a composer and accompanist, including eight years at The Juilliard School and ten years at the Martha Graham School, as well as long associations with Merce Cunningham, José Limón, Alvin Ailey, and a host of other organizations. In 1994, he debuted a dance score entitled Rachel for solo piano at the Danny Kaye Playhouse for, among others, Bertram Ross, a Graham leading man of twenty-five years. A recording of the work is in the permanent collection of the New York Public Library.
In the late '80s, Steeber joined Yamaha Corporation of America as Yamaha Artist Services Coordinator. There, he became increasingly involved in producing concerts and recording artists, marketing high-end pianos, maintaining and voicing concert instruments, managing an expansive concert reserve inventory and helping to manage the relationships enjoyed by the facility with its artists, clients and dealers.
"To me, Yamaha artist relations is defined by an unwavering commitment to musicians, supported by an extraordinary fleet of instruments and access to the world's most advanced music and sound technology," said Steeber. "I am honored to assume this position and look forward to continuing and building on the rewarding cycle of collaboration we share with our artists."
Formerly Music and Activities Coordinator, Makia Matsumura has assumed the role of Production Coordinator. Her responsibilities include supervision of Piano Performance Orders and tracking of the movement of YASI's vast concert reserve pool. She additionally serves as behind-the-scenes technical coordinator for special projects and for archiving all internal YASI artist-related activity.
Magdalena Baczewska has joined the company as Artist Relations Coordinator. Her responsibilities include meeting with artists who perform at YASI, arranging and managing YASI's calendar of events, including all rehearsals, tuning, and performances, as well as helping YASI foment relationships with existing contacts.
Born in Poland, Magdalena Baczewska started her piano studies at the age of five, made her orchestra debut at 12, and has won numerous national and international piano competitions. At 17, she was invited to study with Jerome Rose at the Mannes College of Music in New York City, where she earned Bachelors and Masters degrees summa cum laude. Currently Baczewska is a Doctor of Musical Arts degree candidate at the Manhattan School of Music. She appeared as a soloist with several orchestras and on television. In the United States, she has been heard on the radio on WQXR, NPR, and the Voice of America. An active chamber musician, teacher and music critic, she served on the faculty of Montclair State University in New Jersey and is currently a faculty member at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York.
"We wish Stan and James the best of luck and continued success in their new positions and welcome Magdalena to the Yamaha family," continued Lewis.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
 James Steeber, who has held the position of artist services coordinator for several years, has replaced Stan Zielinski as acting director of the premiere performance, rehearsal and pedagogical facility. |
Zielinski reports directly to Mr. Oike, President of Yamaha Musical Instruments Europe (YMHE) and is responsible for the company's relationships with the continent's foremost classical pianists and performing arts organizations. James Steeber, who has held the position of artist services coordinator for several years, has replaced Zielinski as acting director.
"Since the facility's launch three years ago, Yamaha Artist Services has enjoyed impressive growth as a premiere venue for outstanding musical performance and pedagogy," said Terry Lewis, executive vice president, Yamaha Corporation of America, Music Marketing Group. "Stan's strong product knowledge, artistic expertise and relationships with artists have been integral to this success."
 Makia Matsumura has assumed the role of Yamaha Artist Services' Production Coordinator. |
After graduating from Ohio University as an English major/Music minor, he quickly established a career as a pianist for modern dance, leaning on his extensive ability as an improviser. In 1985, Steeber moved to New York City, forging relationships throughout the performing arts world as a composer and accompanist, including eight years at The Juilliard School and ten years at the Martha Graham School, as well as long associations with Merce Cunningham, José Limón, Alvin Ailey, and a host of other organizations. In 1994, he debuted a dance score entitled Rachel for solo piano at the Danny Kaye Playhouse for, among others, Bertram Ross, a Graham leading man of twenty-five years. A recording of the work is in the permanent collection of the New York Public Library.
In the late '80s, Steeber joined Yamaha Corporation of America as Yamaha Artist Services Coordinator. There, he became increasingly involved in producing concerts and recording artists, marketing high-end pianos, maintaining and voicing concert instruments, managing an expansive concert reserve inventory and helping to manage the relationships enjoyed by the facility with its artists, clients and dealers.
"To me, Yamaha artist relations is defined by an unwavering commitment to musicians, supported by an extraordinary fleet of instruments and access to the world's most advanced music and sound technology," said Steeber. "I am honored to assume this position and look forward to continuing and building on the rewarding cycle of collaboration we share with our artists."
 Magdalena Baczewska has joined the company as Artist Relations Coordinator. |
Magdalena Baczewska has joined the company as Artist Relations Coordinator. Her responsibilities include meeting with artists who perform at YASI, arranging and managing YASI's calendar of events, including all rehearsals, tuning, and performances, as well as helping YASI foment relationships with existing contacts.
Born in Poland, Magdalena Baczewska started her piano studies at the age of five, made her orchestra debut at 12, and has won numerous national and international piano competitions. At 17, she was invited to study with Jerome Rose at the Mannes College of Music in New York City, where she earned Bachelors and Masters degrees summa cum laude. Currently Baczewska is a Doctor of Musical Arts degree candidate at the Manhattan School of Music. She appeared as a soloist with several orchestras and on television. In the United States, she has been heard on the radio on WQXR, NPR, and the Voice of America. An active chamber musician, teacher and music critic, she served on the faculty of Montclair State University in New Jersey and is currently a faculty member at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York.
"We wish Stan and James the best of luck and continued success in their new positions and welcome Magdalena to the Yamaha family," continued Lewis.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.