I am writing with a heavy heart. On March 20, Ruth Katzin announced that Katzin Music would shutter its doors in April forever. I remain deeply saddened by this news.
Katzin Music has served Durango and the Four Corners for almost 40 years. Katzin has not only sold instruments to aspiring and established musicians, but has provided repair services, given deep discounts to local elementary, high school, collegiate and professional organizations, sold thousands of copies of sheet music, instructed countless students and, most importantly, has been a guiding force in the Durango musical landscape.
I cannot begin to count the number of times that members of the Fort Lewis College music department have rushed to Katzin for things like broken strings, dented horns, missing piano parts, lost ligatures, chipped reeds, etc.
The loss of Katzin Music should alarm not only those of us Durangoans who make our living in music, but the greater Durango community as a whole. As many of Durango’s local retailers can probably attest, large-scale sellers like Amazon, and in the music world, Woodwind and Brasswind, have drastically changed the landscape of how consumers shop. This may benefit shoppers in the short-term by allowing them to receive items at home without stepping foot in a store, but at what cost to local economies? What about customer service and building relationships with patrons?
When I was hired by the FLC music department, one of the things that drew me to this community was that the Four Corners had such an active music scene. Most towns our size can only dream of having one, but not all, of the tremendous organizations like Music in the Mountains, San Juan Symphony Orchestra, Stillwater Foundation and Third Avenue Arts, among others.
Katzin Music has worked to bolster and enhance every aspect of musical performance and education in this area, and its fingerprints can be found on almost every musical performance that occurs in Durango today.
Katzin’s biggest legacy has been its support of music education. Its professionals have taught thousands of hours of lessons to students ranging from young beginners to folks who decided later in life to either revisit a passion from their youth, or check off one of their bucket-list items and finally learn an instrument.
Katzin has also been a strong advocate for local schools by helping introduce elementary school students to instruments, organizing rental plans for beginners and helping music programs purchase needed instruments and supplies.
Katzin’s closing is a sad day for Durango. Best wishes to Ruth Katzin, and her employees Jim Gillaspy, Cathie Duncan, Scott Duncan, Roger Smith, Stella Dickson and Logan Gasdia.
Marc Reed, DMA, is associate professor of music (trumpet) and chairman of the Fort Lewis College music department. Reach him at 247-7329 and mareed@fortlewis.edu.
