Creating the Creators of Tomorrow

At Kawai, we have always believed that access to a great instrument can change the trajectory of a young musician's life. That belief took center stage recently at La Cañada High School, where Kawai was proud to donate an ES60 portable digital piano as the grand prize in the school's annual Battle of the Bands.

The winning band, Crimson Echo, earned the instrument through a combination of talent, preparation, and heart. Leading the group is a ninth grader who didn't just form one ensemble for the competition — he formed two. In addition to his pop band entry, he organized a Big Band as well. That kind of ambition at fourteen years old says a great deal about where this student is headed.

"The look on the students' faces when they heard what the grand prize was — it was a mixture of shock and awe." — CARI, MUSIC EDUCATOR, LA CAÑADA HIGH SCHOOL

The event was organized by music educator Cari Golden, whose dedication to her students goes far beyond teaching scales and chord progressions. For Cari, the Battle of the Bands is about cultivating something rarer: the combination of collaboration, creativity, discipline, and resilience that defines a professional musician. Her students don't just learn to play — they learn to lead, to work together, and to push through the hard parts.

Kawai's support for events like this one reflects our longstanding commitment to music education. For nearly a century, our instruments have lived in concert halls, recording studios, and conservatories around the world. But some of our most meaningful moments happen in school auditoriums, when a student hears an instrument and something clicks. We are proud to be a part of those moments.

Study after study confirms what music teachers have always known: learning an instrument builds discipline, strengthens social bonds, improves mental health, and develops the creative thinking that carries students forward in every area of life. Kawai is committed to doing our part to keep that opportunity alive in schools and communities — because we know what a first great instrument can mean.

"What you're doing is helping create the creators of tomorrow, and we know that creativity is what saves the world." — CARI, MUSIC EDUCATOR, LA CAÑADA HIGH SCHOOL

Congratulations to Crimson Echo, to every student who competed, and to Cari for building the kind of program that makes events like this possible. We cannot wait to hear what comes next.