We spoke to Stephen Wick, Mary Galime and Cheryl Hall of Denis Wick Products about the ethos of the company, their greatest achievement to date and their all-time favourite Denis Wick product.
Can you sum up the ethos of Denis Wick Products Ltd in one sentence?
To sum up in just one sentence…Denis Wick Products has been proudly creating products and resources to help brass musicians of all ages transform to perform at their highest level for over 50 years.
If you had to share one unique selling point of the business, what would it be?
Well, we have 3 – family, precision, and skill. It all started with professional Trombone player Denis Wick and was passed down to his musician son Stephen Wick who still runs the company today as well as having a successful career as a Tuba player.
At Denis Wick Products we create High Precision-made mouthpieces and handmade mutes which requires an incredible amount of skill, we believe this really sets up apart from the crowd!
What has been your greatest achievement to date?
Stephen Wick – I would say – you can go into any band room in the world and find one of our products. I see that personally as a fantastic achievement.
Tell us about your favourite product?
Stephen Wick – I think I’d probably go with the wooden mutes in general because they create such a subtle sound which is beautiful in the symphony orchestra.
Cheryl Hall – Our 50th anniversary Gold mutes – I think the achievement of being a company that’s been around for 50 years and having a gold mute to celebrate that is a really special one for me.
Mary Galime – I would say the American Classic 3C mouthpiece, it allows me to play any style of music very easily.
If you had to pick one favourite song/ piece of all time, what would it be?
Stephen Wick – Probably Shostakovich Festival Overture, that’s one of my favourite pieces
Cheryl Hall – If I was to go for classical, I’d say Adagio for Strings, it was played at my wedding and my grandmother’s funeral so it has an emotional pull for me. If I’m talking contemporary music, I’d have to lean towards Paradise City by Guns & Roses, if it comes on it the car, I have to restart it so it’s loud when the drums kick in!
Mary Galime – Arutunian Concerto for Trumpet…that’s been my favourite for years!