In Focus

In Focus posted September 7 2012

In Focus | Noel Wentworth & Wentworth Music

Wentworth Music is a Kelowna institution and has been family owned and aperated for over 45 years. Offering an outstanding selection of musical equipment and instruments, paired with friendly and knowledgeable staff, it's easy to see why this business continues to thrive. Wentworth Music also offers music lessons and some recent changes and work from Noel Wentworth and his team, mean that students who study rock music and other alternative musical genres, now have the opportunity to receive the same levels of accreditation given to classical students.

Noel Wentworth took some time to answer our questions and tell us a bit more about the work that Wentworth Music does in the community.

What is your name of your business/organization?
Wentworth Music
 

What does your business/organization do?
Music Instrument Sales, Lessons, Repairs, Rentals

What is your Facebook account?
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Wentworth-Music/277115256725

What is your mission?

To create the next generation of Musicians, supporting our community at the same time.

 

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?

Connecting "veteran" musicians with up and coming musicians who need role models to learn from 

 

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?

I suppose something to recognize the work we have done in and for our community. I am grateful for the recognition we already get though.

 

Where do you want your business/organization to be in 5 years?

I'd like to see our vision inspire or spread to other locations in BC (and around the world) 

 

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?

My Father and Mother. Dale and Hedy Wentworth. They were doing "firsts" before me

 

What 3 qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
As a family operated business, I think I am most proud of these three qualities:

Reliability: You can count on our staff and instructors to get the job done and follow through with our commitments.
Service: We are here to help as well as educate our customers not only on the sales floor but in lessons, rentals and repairs.
Dependability: We are reliable, truthful and trustworthy. You can count on us. We will love to do everything we can to help our clients succeed.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?

It takes a team to achieve what we have done! You are as much a part of this journey as I am. I am sincerely grateful for your time, effort and support as we cut new ground.

 

How does your business/organization impact the community?
In the last 8 years alone Wentworth Music has raised over $81,000 for the cities of Kelowna and Vernon to assist children at their local hospitals. We have also raised money or participated in programs such as MADD, Hike for Hospice, The MS Walk and Bike Rides, The BC Cancer Society and many other public fund raisers.

 

We have opened up the doors for all Canadian music teachers and their students to teach and learn from a program from the UK called Rockschool. Rockschool has now been accredited with the BC Ministry of Education for External high school credit for Grade 10, 11, and 12. This means for the first time in Canadian history students who study Rock, Funk, Latin, Jazz, Fusion, Metal (and more) can aim for the same credentials as one would receive from other recognized classical methods and examination boards.

We have also created the opportunity for our music students to be involved with the largest student rock productions in Canada (twice a year!), worked with major label artists in "passing of the torch" performances, represented Kelowna and Canada in Singapore, New York and Australia giving music students a goal of achieving their dreams at an age when they may susceptible to other negative influences. I feel like were are living the dream!

What is the best part of operating in Kelowna?
The people, the developing culture. In so many ways, it's the perfect city to make something great happen! 

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
Good question. I think right now I'd be interested in marketing in business and how they invest their money to work for them. I'd love to know more of how they see advertising going in the future and what is currently working for them in their businesses...but then again, I think I'd be asking them about how we should work together to get out of the Elevator.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at WelcometoKelowna.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do. We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination using the links to the forms located on the left navigation, near the top of the page. Thank you, Kelowna!