University of Southern California Graduate Kelly Cruz Selected for Highly Competitive Yamaha Internship Program
BUENA PARK, Calif. (PRWEB) August 29, 2018 -- Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral division, has named University of Southern California (USC) graduate Kelly Cruz as its 2018 selection for the summer term of its renowned percussion instruments internship program.
Chosen from a national pool of talented and accomplished applicants, the Oakland, California native will provide Yamaha with marketing and sales support for its world-class percussion products. Cruz has relocated to be near the company’s headquarters in Buena Park, California for the duration of the internship, which runs through January.
Cruz graduated from James Logan High School, in Oakland, California, in 2013. Her commitment to music has been front and center throughout her academic career. As a member of Young Musicians Program (YMP) in Berkeley, California, she studied percussion with Ndugu Chancler, and participated in several ensembles and world percussion groups around the Bay Area, including YMP jazz ensembles and the African drumming ensemble led by Baba Ken Okulolo.
Cruz earned her degree this past May in Popular Music Drum Set Performance at USC, studying under Ndugu Chancler, Peter Erskine, Aaron Serfaty and Patrice Rushen. She performed with various ensembles including jazz ensembles, the USC Latin pop ensemble and the Orange County chamber ensemble where she was the featured percussionist with the Grammy award-winning band Ozomatli.
“Cruz is a wonderful addition to our team. Between her dedication to music, passion for percussion and deep involvement with other student and local ensembles, she is a perfect fit,” said Troy C. Wollwage, percussion marketing manager, Band & Orchestral division, Yamaha Corporation of America. “Working with the world’s largest music product manufacturer is an opportunity for Cruz to apply her expertise, and we are proud to grant her with rare experiences and learning opportunities that this internship encompasses.”
The Yamaha Band & Orchestral division is responsible for marketing, sales and research, and development for strings, wind instruments, concert and marching percussion, in addition to education initiatives for school music programs throughout the United States.
For nearly 30 years, Yamaha has remained committed to training and supporting people interested in building music-related careers. Many former Yamaha interns now hold fruitful positions throughout the music products industry, including at instrument manufacturers, dealers, drum corps, media and other music education outlets.
Additional information about Yamaha Corporation of America is available at http://4wrd.it/YAMAHAUSA.
About Yamaha
Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) is one of the largest subsidiaries of Yamaha Corporation, Japan and offers a full line of award-winning musical instruments, sound reinforcement, commercial installation and home entertainment products to the U.S. market. Products include: Yamaha acoustic, digital and hybrid pianos, portable keyboards, guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, band and orchestral instruments, marching percussion products, synthesizers, professional digital and analog audio equipment, Steinberg recording products and NEXO commercial audio products, as well as AV receivers, amplifiers, MusicCast wireless multiroom audio systems, Blu-ray/CD players, earphones, headphones, home-theater-in-a-box systems, sound bars and its exclusive line of Digital Sound Projectors. YCA markets innovative, finely crafted technology and entertainment products and musical instruments targeted to the hobbyist, education, worship, music, professional audio installation and consumer markets.
Contact: Peter Giles/Giles Communications
(914) 644-3500 ext. 700 ([email protected])
Peter Giles, GILES COMMUNICATIONS, (914) 644-3500 x 700, [email protected]
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