With more than 30 years of experience playing, teaching, and selling pianos, owner Bob Auletta is more than familiar with the instrument he offers at the Piano Outlet.
Auletta was raised in a musically gifted family with a famous conductor and composer father: Ted Auletta.
Beginning his study of piano at the age of 7, Auletta continued his musical education at the prestigious Julliard School in Manhattan, focusing on conducting and composition. Auletta went on to obtain a bachelor of science degree in music education from New York University, and a master of fine arts degree in conducting from the California Institute of the Arts. Auletta then completed his post-graduate education studying film composition at UCLA.
He moved to Ventura in 1997 and brought the Piano Outlet with him. He’s been meeting the musical needs of Southern California ever since, with his location in Oxnard reaching residents of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
To spread the joy of music farther north, Auletta expanded to the Central Coast, opening a new store in Nipomo, run by former Baldwin Piano representative and piano store owner Ric Overton.
In business for more than 15 years and boasting the largest piano showroom in Ventura County, the Piano Outlet specializes in selling new and used pianos, as well as providing rentals and services to restore and recondition old pianos. Services to tune and move pianos are also available. Beyond selling instruments, the outlet also provides piano lessons and promotes music education with a staff of talented instructors.
Manager Overton finds one of the most unique aspects of the store to be an emphasis on music education.
“The most rewarding part of the job is definitely watching kids learn to play,” he said.
In addition to being manager of the Nipomo branch, Overton provides piano lessons for adults.
Interested in giving back to the community that has given so much to him, Auletta actively supports the arts and charities in the Ventura County area through the outlet, from the Rubicon Theater and the New West Symphony to the Boys and Girls Club of Oxnard.
The Piano Outlet’s newest location is at 485 N. Frontage Road in Nipomo. Manager Overton can be reached at 929-8901.
Highlights
• Want your business to save energy and reduce costs? Start out on your path to greener pastures at the Santa Maria Green Business Energy Efficiency Forum, currently taking registrations for its July 20 event.
The forum will include presentations from PG&E, Southern California Gas, the California Energy Efficient Program, and the Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership, among others. Information on new electric cars and hybrids and energy efficiency efforts in Santa Maria will also be presented.
The Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau, and the Santa Maria Economic Development Commission will sponsor
the event.
Registration and displays open at 9 a.m., with the program to follow from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Displays will remain open until 3 p.m. The cost is $18 and includes lunch, registration, and a display space for companies and products. The forum takes place at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge at 1309 N. Bradley Road.
To register, visit santamaria.com and click on the event banner. For more information, e-mail edc@santamaria.com or call 925-2403, Ext. 817.
Intern Malory Ensor wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas compiled the Highlights. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jun 23-30, 2011.
