AUGUST 2 I WHITE HOUSE OF MUSIC I ACQUISITION
White House of Music Acquires Hartland Music's Retail Operations

White House of Music in Waukesha, Wisconsin, announced on Aug. 2 that it has acquired the retail, rental, and repair operations of Hartland Music in Hartland, Wisconsin. White House of Music said in a statement that the acquisition will provide a more focused customer service experience to musicians, educators and music students in the Hartland area.

Founded in 1975 by current owners Larry and Ellen McDonald, Hartland Music features a 15,000-square-foot multi-use facility that is home to the Waukesha County Conservatory of Music, Backstage Cafe coffee shop, grand piano room as well as Hartland's 3,500-square-foot retail store.

White House of Music owns and operates five full-service music retail stores in Waukesha, West Bend, Germantown, Wauwatosa, and Watertown, Wisconsin. The company offers instrument rentals and sales, music lessons, instrument repairs, and sheet music and accessory sales. One of the company's key services is its educational services program, providing musical supplies and other support directly to music educators in schools throughout the region. In addition, White House of Music facilitates instrument rentals through a state-wide network of music retail partners. Both Hartland Music and White House of Music are privately held.

The acquisition allows White House of Music to take ownership of the retail storefront housed within Hartland Music, including its instrument rental and repair services. The Waukesha County Conservatory of Music, Backstage Cafe and performance stage, and piano show room will continue to be owned and operated by the McDonalds, with the piano show room being renamed Hartland Piano, Inc.

"This opportunity is all about focus," said Ellen McDonald, president of Hartland Music. "Larry and I are grateful to the Hartland community for helping us grow over the past 40 years. One of the key areas we've enjoyed building with our customers is our music education programming through the conservatory, and our piano sales and services. With White House of Music acquiring our retail operations, we are excited to now focus on the areas of our business that we are most passionate about."

"School music is what White House of Music does best," said Chris White, president and CEO of White House of Music. "This opportunity will let us offer our band and orchestra rentals and products directly to the Hartland community, which has a great tradition of supporting music education. Our convenient rental program, large product inventory, and professional repair services will now be locally available to these customers, and we can't wait to begin working with them."

According to White, to streamline the transition, Hartland Music will retain its name and operate as a separate division of White House of Music for the time being. The current staff and the McDonalds will remain actively involved with the transition to ensure consistent communication with existing customers and stakeholders.

whitehouseofmusic.com
hartlandmusic.com