Kawai Pianos is pleased to announce its participation as sponsor of the RootsTech Song Contest, an international song-writing competition celebrating connections and belonging. As sponsor, Kawai Pianos will be awarding each of the Grand Prize, Category and People’s Choice winners with a Kawai digital piano. The competition, held as the main event of the RootsTech Connect virtual conference, will be held November 18, 2020 through February 27, 2021.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of the RootsTech Connect conference as sponsor of its main event, the RootsTech Song Competition.” said Takanori Aoki, President of Kawai America Corporation and Kawai Canada Music. “Participating in RootsTech and its songwriting competition complements our passion of supporting music creation among all ages and skill levels around the world, and our history and legacy of being a family-led company for three generations.”
Master craftsman Koichi Kawai and seven of his colleagues formed Kawai Musical Instrument Research Laboratory in 1927 in Hamamatsu Japan. Their dream was bold and singular – to build the finest pianos in the world. Although the early years proved challenging, the company prospered growing to more than 500 employees producing over 1500 pianos a year. In 1955 at the age of 70, Koichi Kawai died suddenly and succeeding him at the helm was Shigeru Kawai who led his family’s company into years of explosive growth by introducing modern manufacturing techniques. After Shigeru Kawai’s passing in 1988, his son Hirotaka Kawai was appointed president of the global company, which he continues to lead today.
Steve Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch International, host of the RootsTech Connect conference, commented, “What an honor it is to have Kawai Pianos participate as sponsor of the RootsTech Song Contest.” He continues, “In addition to being a company that continues to be led by the Kawai family, its pianos have certainly played a part in the creation of memories and stories through the gathering of friends, families and even strangers across the world and across generations. Kawai not only builds fine pianos; it embodies the spirit of connecting and belonging. I certainly have a few memories of my own gathering around a piano.”
As the main event of RootsTech Connect, the RootsTech Song Contest is an international song contest that focuses on the theme of connection and belonging. There are three categories in which an individual can participate: Youth, Amateur, and Professional. Any genre is acceptable so long as there are lyrics provided. Grand prize, Category, and People’s Choice winners will be announced on February 27, 2021, the final day of the RootsTech Connect Virtual Conference held February 25-27, 2021. For more information, please visit rootstechsongcontest.org.
