EVENT REPORT 


MIA Individuals and collectives


The 2010 MIA Awards was the biggest yet, filling London’s Landmark Hotel with professionals from across the industry, all keen on seeing who would take the spoils this year. Adam Savage went along and joined in the festivities…


are out there, making their millions and getting all the credit, little thought is spared for the men and women who manufacture, distribute and sell the instruments that helped get these superstars to where they are today, which is why when an event is thrown to show some recognition for these efforts, it’s never difficult to fill a space like London’s Landmark Hotel with industry professionals who showed no hesitation in dusting off their finest get-up in preparation for an evening of well-deserved prize giving. This was the annual MIA Awards, a ceremony that honours the best in the business, and does so with a generous helping of good cheer. As always, the event featured a humourous host and this year it was Dominic Holland who took charge of presenting, handing out awards. Firstly though, Roland directors Tim Walter,


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Peter Heath and Simon Griffiths, who successfully completed a recent gruelling charity bike ride from Land’s End to London, were on hand to present the MIA’s chief executive Paul McManus with a cheque for over £15,000, all in aid of the Music for All charity. The trio also took the opportunity to announce plans for an even more punishing ordeal in the future, a ride from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.


18 miPRO JANUARY 2011


s you all know, considering how you’re all part of it, the MI industry is a hard working bunch. While all the musicians


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This was our biggest awards evening to date and we were delighted with the level of support from all parts of


the industry. Paul McManus


The awards ceremony itself then got


underway, with the classical category coming first. Strangely, there were two prizes for Best Woodwind, announced separately and both of which were picked up by Worldwind Music for the Trevor James TJ10x and the manufacturer’s Classic Alto Saxophone. Printed music master Alan Bullard was another multiple award recipient, collecting Best Classical Publication for his Oxford Book of Flexible Carols, the Innovation in Printed Music Publishing prize for Joining the Dots: A Fresh Approach to Piano Sight-Reading and the accolade for Best Education Publication for Joining the Dots (Book 1). Acceptance speeches up to this point were a


fairly low-key affair, which is not unusual for the MI crowd, but this pattern was brought to


do a brilliant end when Chappell of Bond Street’s John McLean stepped up to get his Lifetime Achievement gong. Not only was John clearly ecstatic at being chosen, he also gave those present a delightful taste of the humour and personality that he has delivered to customers at the store for nearly 30 years. A mere snippet of his Oscar-worthy


Bob Paxman


monologue was: “I have learnt so much from so many of the people in this room. Although this was usually outside of working hours. This is rather ironic, as I’m winning this award for what I have done during working hours.” Another award-winner recognised for their


John McLean


achievements over a period of several decades was Ken Achard, who was the first ever winner of the newly introduced Living Legend prize. Achard, who is the founder of Peavey Europe, Ashton Music UK and Mariner Guitars, as well as the author of various books, was undoubtedly a worthy choice for this honour, and the level of appreciation from those present was proof of this. Although the vast majority of winners were


Ken Achard


nicely prepared for receiving their award, with words of thanks rehearsed, if required, one company that wasn’t even aware of its impending success was Source Distribution. Picking up the Total Guitar Amplifier of the Year for the Jet City JCA2112RC shows just how well Source and Jet City, a newcomer to the amp scene have done in the last year.


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