When MPA acquired the assets of the Vitak-Elsnic portfolio in 2013, a primary goal was to rebuild awareness of and appreciation for the music by today’s listeners. Our efforts to expand the Ernie Broeniman collection of concert band arrangements based on music in the Vitak-Elsnic portfolio is illustrative of our commitment to that goal. But we also have a great interest in seeing that all Vitak-Elsnic music is made widely available, including the concertina arrangements. For that reason, we are excited to announce that we have entered into a strategic alliance with Jerry Minar and JBM Sound, Inc. of New Prague, Minnesota regarding the Vitak-Elsnic collection of concertina music.
Under our agreement, JBM Sound has acquired all assets of the Vitak-Elsnic concertina business, principally its inventory hundreds of selections of concertina sheet music and folios. JBM and MPA will both actively promote the Vitak-Elsnic brand and cross-refer potential customers.
JBM Sound is headed by Jerry Minar, America’s pre-eminent concertina authority. Minar has played concertina in some of the legendary bands of the polka genre. In 1997, Minar acquired the Hengel concertina manufacturing business, which he still owns. He has been inducted along with other artists into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in New Ulm and the World Concertina Congress Hall of Fame. He is a co-founder of the 280-member Czech Area Concertina Club.
For further information, contact Steve Harris, President, Music Publishers of America at steve@musicpublishersofamerica.com, phone (855) NU MUSIC or Jerry Minar, President, JBM Sound, at jbmsound@bevcomm.net, phone (952) 758-4797.