(May 3, 2018) On the stage, show floor and lobby of Waetjen Auditorium, 80 new and used grands, verticals and digital pianos shine under the soft glow of the architectural lights.
It’s the the first big institutional sales event in 2018, for Solich Piano — a Yamaha dealer with locations in Cleveland, Columbus and Boardman, Ohio. It’s also the first time the piano retailer has partnered with Cleveland State University.
The event took weeks to plan, but with the help of Kle Merritt, chief operating officer, Thomas Solich, the owner of Solich Piano, is prepared to meet with 130-plus buyers his “primary strategist” reserved appointments over a three-day period.
Dressed in conservative suits, the business partners and childhood friends are eager to start the first weekend of spring on a good note. As potential buyers walk into the ornate hall and inquire about piano lines, Solich, a concert pianist who’s been completely blind since birth, demonstrates their beauty and musical tones by playing extracts of Disney ballads for families with children as well as snippets from the likes of Bach and Beethoven for classically minded consumers.
