The 2010 NAMM convention will be held from January 14-17,2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Ave.,Anaheim, CA. The trade-only and highly exclusive NAMM Show is one of the longest-running and largest events in the music world, featuring thousands of the latest musical instruments and products, amazing live music at every turn and the biggest names and brightest minds from the international music products industry.

At the NAMM ( National Association of Music Merchants) convention this year, Cory Pesaturo-2009 Winner of the International Digital Accordion Competition (picture top left); Alicia Baker – Roland’s Senior 2009 National Champion (picture top right); and Danielle Renzi – Roland’s Junior 2009 Champion will perform (picture right). Having a 23 year old, 18 year old and a 16 year old demonstrating the Roland V-Accordions shows the world that the accordion is making a huge come-back. This convention draws 100,000 people in four days and pretty well sets the stage for the musical year that follows.

Cory Pesaturo, USA representative to the 2009 Coupe Mondiale in NZ, won first place in the International Digital Accordion Competition for Coupe Mondiale Contestants in Auckland, NZ. Roland Corporation sponsored the inaugural Coupe Mondiale Digital Accordion Competition, part of the 2009 Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships & Festival. Roland is a leading manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, including the V‐Accordion, the world’s first digital modeling accordion. As part of the Coupe Mondiale sponsorship, Roland exhibited the full range of Roland V‐Accordions at the Bruce Mason Centre during the 62nd Coupe Mondiale event. This prestigious international accordion competition is organized annually by the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA – IMC‐UNESCO).

Danielle Renzi is a sixteen year old accordionist who has been taking lessons at the Robert Paolo Music Studio since she was seven.( Photo is of Danielle and her teacher, Robert Paolo). She has won the New England Cup each year in her age division from eight to twelve years old. She won the New England Championship at thirteen and fourteen years old, the youngest contestant to have that honor. Recent rulings excluded her from competing in the championship for a third year so she entered the New England Entertainment Championship which she won at fourteen years old and again at fifteen. She has also been part of the Paolo Studio Band for the past eight years which has won many first place trophies.

Alicia Baker, eighteen years old, won the championship at the International Accordion Competition in Kimberley, Canada (KIOTAC). She has also placed 1st in multiple divisions at the Leavenworth International Accordion Competition. Most recently, Alicia competed in the National V-Roland Accordion Festival in Los Angeles, and won the privilege of representing the USA at the International V-Accordion Roland festival and competition which took place on November 20, 2009 in Rome, Italy.

The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization’s popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global 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 more than 9,000 Member companies.

Roland Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments, including keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion, digital recording equipment, amplifiers, audio processors, and multimedia products. With over 35 years of musical instrument development, Roland sets the standard in music technology for the world to follow.

The V-Accordion is the first instrument of its kind to provide powerful digital modeling technology in a traditional, immediately familiar, accordion design, and with performance functions and authentic sounds. It combines the familiar sounds and nuances of a traditional accordion with the versatility of a modern digital musical instrument.The FR-7x is the successor to the current FR-7. It is enhanced with the latest V-Accordion features.

For further information: ron.lankford@rolandus.com