Secretary of Education Riley Headlines, Teachers Honored at Musical Innovations Grand Opening

Musical Innovations, a South-Carolina based school music retailer nationally recognized for its contributions to music education, hosted a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for its new Musical Innovations Conservatory (“MIC”) earlier this month at its main location, 150-G Tanner Road at Butler, Greenville.

The event was co-hosted by the Mauldin Chamber of Commerce, and featured guest speakers Mauldin Mayor Dennis Raines, former Secretary of Education and Governor of South Carolina, Dick Riley, Greenville County Schools Fine Arts Coordinator Bradley Wingate, and Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year (and Mauldin High School band director), Adam Scheuch. Wingate was honored with an award for his support of area school music programs, and Scheuch and other area Teachers of the Year were honored as well. Both Riley and Senator Tim Scott (represented by his Greenville office staff member, Danielle Baker Gibbs) were presented with Certificates of Appreciation for their strong support of music education in South Carolina.

Musical Innovations recently completed an expansion that increased the store’s size from 1,300 square feet to 3,200 square feet, adding five new, soundproofed teaching studios to MIConservatory, as well as a Pro Instrument Showroom, home of the company’s custom flute shop, Carolina Flutes, and an expanded warehouse. It was announced at the June event that the company has acquired an additional 650 square feet in the strip center, which will house the company’s new in-house instrument repair center.

Also announced was the re-formation of the South Carolina Coalition for Music Education, a collaboration between local educators, retailers, community members and other music education stakeholders designed to strengthen and support local school music programs. Honorary members of the SCCME include State Superintedent of Schools Molly Spearman, former Secretary Riley and Dr. Tayloe Harding, dean of the USC School of Music.