Barnes and Mullins Adds Rovner Woodwind Exclusive

Barnes & Mullins has added exclusive UK & Ireland distribution of American woodwind accessory manufacturer, Rovner Products.

Founded in 1974 by Phil Rovner, Rovner Products started with just one, now iconic, product: the original Dark ligature.  Since that time however, the company has grown in both the range of products offered and in its now enviable reputation for quality and innovation.

“Barnes & Mullins have had a long history in the woodwind sector and have been acutely aware of the Rovner company’s standing amongst professional players. So we’re extremely happy to now be able to offer Rovner products to the musicians of the UK and Ireland.” stated Brian Cleary, B&M’s joint managing director.

Phil Rovner’s background was in mechanical engineering, acoustic technology and music theory, and this skillset equipped him to develop products to enhance and control the tone of a clarinet or saxophone. Each individual ligature brought something unique to the playing experience, enhancing performance or solving problems that Rovner, as a professional musician, had encountered himself.   

In 2014, the company was purchased by George and Lynn Reeder. Both had prior experience as small business owners, George’s background was in the technical and manufacturing sectors and Lynn’s was more artistic in nature. Although George Reeder had enjoyed a brief stint as Rovner’s general manager in the early 1990’s, both began working with Phil Rovner in a consulting capacity starting in 2009 until Rovner was ready to retire.  The couple, and their son Alex, now run the company.

“We have heard such wonderful comments from various dealers about Barnes & Mullins.  We couldn’t be more pleased to be starting this new collaboration and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship,” added Lynn Reeder.

The full range of Rovner products will be available from Barnes & Mullins from the end of August 2018.