About Central Instrument Company Inc.

The Central Instrument Company (CIC) was established in 1979 and specializes in school band and orchestra instruments as well as accessories. The company is owned and operated by former school music teachers. We offer popular nationally advertised band and orchestra instruments, accessories, and music books. We are a dealer for Yamaha, Selmer, Bach, Buffet, Ludwig, Musser, Deagan, Pearl and Premier products.

Our factory-trained service technicians assure you the highest quality repair work. Many schools and professional musicians rely on the facilities at the Central Instrument Company for their instrument repairs.

CIC offers an instrument rental program with the option to own. This rental program is unsurpassed anywhere, enabling the greatest number of students to give music a try for the least amount of money. Even with today's high cost of musical instruments CIC has still been able to hold down the prices on its rental instruments.

We supply schools educational aids such as band folders, concert programs, and instrument care pamphlets. Our educationally oriented business is dedicated to the development and encouragement of school band and orchestra programs.

Meet Our Staff President & CEO James Stahl -- James Stahl has always had a great deal of interest in music performance and music education. He graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet, and a Bachelor of Education. Jim also attended the Cleveland Institute of Music where he received Master of Music in Clarinet. While at CIM, Jim studied with famed Cleveland Orchestra Clarinetist, Theodore Johnson. Jim taught private clarinet lessons for several years before serving as a high school band director in the Delaware City Schools. For many years he was active as a performing clarinetist throughout northeast Ohio, including four years with the Akron Symphony Orchestra. Jim founded the Central Instrument Co. in 1979 and today is recognized as on of the leading school music retailers in the area. Accounts Manager Jack Daffner -- Jack earned his baccalaureate degree in Business Administration from Kent State University. Jack has worked in the business sector for more than 36 years. Sales Representative Don Volenik -- Don joined the staff of CIC in the fall of 1999 as one of its two outside sales reps. Don holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Youngstown State University. His previous teaching experience includes twelve years as an instrumental music teacher in public and parochial school;s. His major instrument is the trumpet and he occasionally performs throughout northeast Ohio. His daily schedule is as follows. Mon.-in store Tue.-Medina, western Cuyahoga counties Wed.-Portage, Mahoning, Columbiana Trumbull Counies Thu.-Northern Summit, Geauga, eastern Cuyahoga, Lake Counties Fri.-Portage, western Mahoning, Stark, southern Summit counties. Repair Technician Ron Florkowski -- Ron has worked at CIC for 13 years in repair service and sales. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toledo. He has served as an apprentice to a graduate of Western Iowa University. He was a tech at Coyle's Music of Columbus, Ohio. Ron was employed at Coyles Music for fifteen years and served as assistant manager of the Toledo store. Ron Plays the trumpet, sax, and bass guitar. He has played in a Toledo based polka band and fronted his own wedding band for ten years. "TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY I WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED IN BUSINESS AND IN LIFE" Repair Technician Sue Swab -- Sue joined the staff at CIC in 1979 making her the the staff member with the most experience with the company. Sue received her B.A. degree in Music Ed, from Bowling Green State Univ. and an associate degree in instrument repair from Western Iowa Tech. Sue studied string repair with Peter Horn. Sue plays handbells, trombone, and viola. She performs with the Summit Bells, Western Reserve Community Band, and the New Horizons Orchestra. "WHEN A PERSON MEETS HARD TIMES, IT IS A SONG THAT HELPS THEM THROUGH". Sales, IT, Purchasing, Webmaster Dave Hyatt -- Dave has worked at CIC for ten years. He handles inside sales, purchasing, IT and manages the store's website. Dave has a BA from the University of Akron School of Education and has worked for more than thirty years in the music retail business. He has also attended NAMM sales seminars, internet marketing workshops, and is a Yamaha Certified Sales Professional. You may have seen Dave around the area playing in numerous bands. Dave still has hopes to be a major league baseball player Sales and everything else! Sue Hyatt -- Sue joined the CIC Family in 2006. Sue works in sales, design and accounts management. She has experience in business and training programs and attended the University of Akron Fine Arts School. Sue's instruments of choice are the violin and the piano. She is a member of the New Horizons Band Orchestra. "YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN TO PLAY".   Instrument Prep. & Repair Brint Florkowski -- Brint started working at CIC in 2005. He attends St. Vincent St. Mary High School. He plays percussion instruments with the school's marching Band, concert band, pep band, and jazz band. He is the section leader of the STVM Drumline. Brint took piano lessons for seven years. His hobbies include music, driving his Corvette, hanging with friends, writing drumline scores, strumming the guitar and WEEKENDS! He is a member of Russian Club and is, BY FAR, the youngest member of the New Horizons band. Part Time sales Pat Santelli -- Pat is a part time employee at CIC. He retired from public school teaching in 2007. He taught in the North Baltimore School District in northwest Ohio from 1975 until 1978. He left teaching for two years and managed restaurants in the Toledo area. Deciding that he missed music very badly, he reentered the field of education by teaching the bands and choirs at Holgate Local Schools. Pat served the Holgate School District for eight years. In 1988, Pat and his family moved to Norton, Ohio where he taught the elementary, middle school and high school bands for nineteen years prior to his retirement.                             Part Time Sales Caroline Stillwell--grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and went to Kent State University where she received a B.S. in Music Education and a Masters of Fine Arts degree.  She began teaching in the Cleveland Public Schools, but spent most of her career in rural Wayne County.  She retired after 35 years and enjoys part time work at CIC and teaching private clarinet lessons and playing in the Wadsworth Community Band.   Part Time Instrument Repair and Sales Marty Hyatt -- Marty began working at CIC in 2009.  Since he started working here, he has accepted more responsibilities for the everyday operation of the business.  Marty's business experience includes print shop proprietorship, worked in the political sector in Summit County, real estate sales. Marty's unofficial title at the store is "MacGyver".