DEC. 6 I GIST PIANO CENTER I ANNIVERSARY
Gist Celebrates 40

Gist Piano Center, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is celebrating its 40th anniversary with activities all across the state.

"This is an important year for us," said John Gist, company president. "Kentucky has changed quite a bit since my dad opened the business in 1971, and we're excited to be in a position of growth — despite a tornado, an electrical fire, the Watterson Expressway expansion and the worst economy our business has ever seen. After 40 years, we're still Kentucky's trusted piano hub, and we have a lot to celebrate."

Anniversary Festivities
Gist's yearlong anniversary celebration will begin with a new video series, Gist's History of Service, on the company's YouTube channel. Additionally, the dealership will launch an extensive expansion and remodeling project. The initiative will include a new recital facility and piano showroom for the Poplar Level and Watterson location in Louisville and a new piano lessons facility, recital hall, print music department and digital piano showroom for the Harrodsburg Road and Man o' War location in Lexington.

"Over the years, we have emerged as the last local, family owned, full-service piano house in the state," Gist said. "To meet Kentucky's growing need, we're maintaining our commitment to fine acoustic pianos like Steinway & Sons, while expanding into print music, education and digital technologies."

The retailer has also planned a number of concerts, a workshop by Alfred editor and composer E.L. Lancaster, a new promotional fundraiser for The Lexington Philharmonic and an underground piano recital.

Christmas Recordings
As part of Gist's anniversary, the company is inviting local piano students to record their own Christmas albums on state-of-the-art Roland digital pianos. The recordings will be burned to CD in full digital stereo quality, then labeled and given to the performers while they wait.

"Christmas is a time of giving, and there's no better [gift] than music — especially music you made with your own two hands," said James Harding, Gist's director of marketing.

Gist will offer students the opportunity to record their favorite holiday music and produce a professional-grade CD through Christmas Eve. Members of Gist's Partners In Education Program may record their CDs for free. The charge for non-members will be $20 per CD.