Kawai GL20 Grand Piano

Musical Merchandise Review (MMR) magazine has announced the results of its 2016 ‘Dealer’s Choice Awards’, naming the GL Series grand pianos and CA/CS Series digital pianos as ‘Product of the Year’ and ‘Home Digital Keyboard of the Year’ respectively.

Each year the magazine surveys musical instrument retailers across North America, inviting dealers to vote for their favourite products in a range of categories.  Winners in each category receive the celebrated ‘Dealer’ Choice Award’ from MMR, along with the satisfaction of being honoured as one of the musical instrument industry’s finest brands and products.

Commenting on the awards, Brian Chung, senior vice president of Kawai America Corporation remarked: “We’re overwhelmed.  When we think about the thousands and thousands of instruments and musical products offered across our industry, and then realise that Kawai GL Series grand pianos were chosen ‘Number One’ amid this sea of products, it’s beyond amazing. And then, to win the Digital Home Keyboard of the Year award for our CA and CS Series digitals was just incredible. We’re honoured, and very grateful.”

The GL Series of grand pianos was introduced in the autumn of 2015 with the goal of providing outstanding musicality and value to piano customers.  All five instruments in the series feature Kawai’s patented Millennium III carbon fibre action with extended keys, a tapered solid spruce soundboard, and the unique SOLID body construction.  “Our vision for the GL Series was to offer a better musical instrument at every price level,” said Chung. “When you examine carefully the feature set of our 5-foot GL-10 grand, you’ll see there isn’t another instrument in its class that can compare.”

The CA and CS series of digital pianos were introduced in early 2015 and 2016 respectively, with the latter ‘Classic Series’ models incorporating Kawai’s finest Grand Feel II wooden-key keyboard action and Shigeru Kawai SK-EX and SK-5 grand piano sounds within luxurious ebony polished cabinets.  The flagship CS11 instrument adopts the traditional design of a Kawai K Series upright piano, and features a real wooden soundboard that produces a more natural, organic tone.  “With each new generation, our digitals keep getting better and better,” commented Tom Love, Kawai America’s Senior Director for Electronics. “Our CA and CS digital models have many acoustic-like features that are the direct result of Kawai’s nine decades of experience in building acoustic pianos.”

The ‘Dealer’s Choice Awards’ were established in 1992, and have gained a reputation as one of the musical instrument industries foremost accolades.  During this time, Kawai’s RX Series grand and K-3 upright pianos have proved a dominant force, winning their respective categories for several consecutive years, while the CA Series digital line has also received multiple awards.  This year’s success increases Kawai’s tally of MMR trophies to a total of 18, and reflects the company’s long-standing popularity among retailers and customers.

History of received MMR Magazine ‘Dealer’s Choice’ awards

2016: MMR Product of the Year (GL Series Grand Pianos)
2016: MMR MMR Home Digital Keyboard Line of the Year (CA/CS Series Digital Piano)
2015: MMR Legacy Award (CA95 Hybrid Piano)
2014: MMR Home Digital Keyboard Line of the Year (CN Series Digital Pianos)
2014: MMR Pro Digital Piano Line of the Year (MP Series Pro Digital Pianos)
2013: MMR Home Digital Keyboard of the Year (CA95 Hybrid Piano)
2012: MMR Home Digital Keyboard of the Year (CA95 Hybrid Piano)
2011: MMR Acoustic Piano of the Year (K-3 Professional Upright Piano)
2010: MMR Acoustic Piano of the Year (K-3 Professional Upright Piano)
2009: MMR Acoustic Piano of the Year (K-3 Professional Upright Piano)
2008: MMR Acoustic Piano of the Year (K-3 Professional Upright Piano)
2007: MMR Digital Home Keyboard of the Year (CA91 Hybrid Piano)
2005: MMR Acoustic Piano Line of the Year (RX Series Grand Pianos)
2004: MMR Acoustic Piano Line of the Year (RX Series Grand Pianos)
2003: MMR Acoustic Piano Line of the Year (RX Series Grand Pianos)
2002: MMR Digital Home Keyboard of the Year (CN270 Digital Piano)
2001: MMR Digital Home Keyboard of the Year (ES1 Portable Digital Piano)
2000: MMR Digital Home Keyboard of the Year (CP200 Ensemble Grand Piano)

About MMR Magazine

Musical Merchandise Review is the leading trade publication in the field of musical instruments and sound reinforcement, and has been in continuous operation since 1879 with an international readership.

About Kawai

Kawai is a global corporation with distribution in virtually every major market in the world.   From its beginnings in 1927 in Hamamatsu, Japan, the company has been committed to an ongoing quest to perfect the art of the piano.  Since 1998, Kawai has received 45 major international awards for product and service excellence.  One of the world’s largest music instrument manufacturers, Kawai celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2017 and is one of the few piano companies in the world still led by members of its founding family.