INC. NAMES ENSEMBLE TO 2026 FASTEST- GROWING PRIVATE COMPANIES LIST
D ’Addario has launched Gear Collection, a digital feature within the Players Circle platform. Designed to replace fragmented spreadsheets and handwritten lists, Gear Collection offers musicians a centralized, visual inventory to manage their instruments, pedals, amps and accessories. For many players, managing an extensive collection of gear, from cymbals and cables to vintage guitars, is a logistical challenge. Gear Collection aims to solve this by providing an intuitive digital inventory where musicians can build and refine their setups over time as their gear evolves. It serves as a new home for gear-obsessed players to show off their setups and discover the tools behind their favorite sounds. Gear Collection is fully integrated into E nsemble Performing Arts has announced it has been ranked No. 12 out of 60 companies on Inc. magazine’s sixth annual Inc. Regionals: Rocky Mountains list, a ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Rocky Mountains. The region includes Montana, Idaho, Wyo- ming, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Ensemble Performing Arts was the highest ranked company in the education category, and just four Colorado businesses were included in the top 15 companies on the Rocky Mountains list. An extension of the national Inc. 5000 list, the Regionals list offers a data-driven look at the independent small businesses driving growth across the Rocky Mountains economy. Companies on this year’s list demonstrate exceptional revenue expan- sion, resilience and job creation during a challenging economic period. Established in 2019 following the
acquisition of a single music school in Louisville, Colorado, Ensemble Per- forming Arts today serves students at more than 125 local music and dance schools, and is focused on preserving established community relationships, creating more resources for students, and providing opportunities for teach- ers to build stable careers. Over the past two years, Ensemble has deepened its commitment to preserving the arts by partnering complementary businesses beyond schools, such as the National Educational Music Company, a leading provider of instrument rentals. “Ranking well on the Inc. Fastest-Grow- ing Private Companies list is always an honor, and we’re especially energized know- ing that our growth comes from advancing performing arts education in more than 30 states,” said Jeff Homer, Ensemble’s founder. {ensembleschools.com}
ESP U.S.’s Matt Masciandaro and Todd Binder.
ESP GUITAR COMPANY ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CHANGES E SP Guitars has announced that Matt Masciandaro, the company’s president and CEO of the brand’s U.S. operations for the past 39 years, has decided to retire. Moving into Masciandaro’s former role as president is Todd Binder, who has spent more than three decades at the company, and most recently has served as ESP’s vice president of product development. ESP cel- ebrated its 50th year in business in 2025. “On behalf of ESP Japan, I wish to ex- press our sincere gratitude to Matt for his many years of dedicated service and his steadfast commitment to advancing Mr. Shibuya’s vision in the United States and across the world,” said Mr. Fujimori, chair- man of ESP Group. “His contributions to the ESP brand have been invaluable, and the foundation he has built will endure for years to come. We congratulate him and wish him the very best.” Founded by Hisatake Shibuya in 1975 as a small instrument service shop in To- kyo, Japan, ESP Guitars became a global known after opening its first U.S. offices in 1985. Masciandaro, who’d previously worked as a tech and a tour manager for bands, including Aerosmith, Motörhead, Dokken and others, joined the company soon after. The brand grew exponentially under Masciandaro’s leadership. He re- located ESP’s U.S. headquarters, first in 1989 to New York’s 48th Street, and then a few years later to California. “I’m both proud and humbled by the trust that Mr. Shibuya placed in me back in 1987 when I was chosen to lead ESP’s USA opera- tions,” Masciandaro said. {espguitars.com}
D’Addario Launches Players Circle Gear Collection
the Players Circle loyalty ecosystem. Play- ers are rewarded with points simply for logging and organizing their gear, turning the time spent managing an inventory into real value for future D’Addario purchases. {daddario.com}
18 I MUSIC INC. I JUNE 2026
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