Kahler Awards Prizes in Teen Band Competition

Press release
Source: Kahler International, Inc.

Kahler International was proud to sponsor prizes for the top eight teen bands at the first-ever SchoolJam Texas Teen Battle of the Bands in Austin, Texas, July 28.

The SchoolJam program originated in Germany five years ago to promote non-traditional music in traditional music education settings. The first U.S.-based SchoolJam competition took place at Emo's in Austin during the Summer NAMM music products trade show.

The battle of the bands event encourages teen bands to perform live, and supports their local music education programs through monetary prizes. The competition's main sponsors are NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry; Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA); and SchoolJam, the original German SchoolJam Teen Battle of the Bands. As a member of NAMM, Kahler jumped at the opportunity to participate in this international competition by donating prizes to help support the teen band finalists.

SchoolJam Texas featured eight band finalists who were striving for first place. The first place winner, The Chilton Classic of Corpus Christi, Texas, received a variety of prizes including a gift certificate valued at $750 to use at their local NAMM Member retail store, and an all-expense-paid rock star trip to Germany to perform at the finals of the original SchoolJam competition held at the Musikmesse conference in March. The first-place finalist also won a $3,000 gift certificate for the band's school to use at a local NAMM retailer of choice to help support their school music education program.

Each of the remaining seven bands won a gift certificate to use at their local music retailer. Value of these gift certificates ranged from $100 to $500 for the bands, and $500 to $3,000 for the school music education programs.

The panel of judges included Kirsten Brooks of VH1 Save the Music; JD Janda, vice president and band division chair of TMEA; Gerald Dellmann, SchoolJam founder; and Dieter Roesberg, editor in chief of Gitarre & Bass and MM Musik Media Verlang, Germany.

Other finalists included:

-Second Place: Caulfield, of Plano, Texas

-Third Place: Blankberry of Nederland, Texas

-Remaining finalists: Cloud IX of Huffman, Texas; Mariachi Tejano de Sam Houston of Grand Prairie, Texas; Rip Tide of Irving, Texas;, Stalled of Forney, Texas; Stylish Headphones Milady of Grapevine, Texas.

"NAMM was so pleased with how well received this event was. The program's goal was accomplished-to encourage teens from all over Texas to share their musical talent and creativity in front of their peers and educators," said Morgan Ringwald, director of Market Development at NAMM. "We're looking forward to continuing this event in the future, and supporting teens who are making music in a nontraditional setting."

About Kahler International, Inc.
Kahler International, Inc. is the leading manufacture of tremolo and fixed bridge systems for electric guitar and bass. Used by guitar and bass manufactures, high profile endorsers and musicians alike, Kahler proudly maintains its recognition as the reliable, quality performing bridge of choice throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.kahlerusa.com.

About NAMM
NAMM is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the international musical instruments and products industry. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).