Brian Holowaychuk Announces Retirement & Sale of Axe Music
Sennheiser’s Dawn Birr Honoured at 2018
She Rocks Awards
BRIAN HOLOWAYCHUK
Axe Music Founder and President Brian Holowaychuk announced via Facebook on Feb. 8 th
that he is retiring and has sold the company to Long & McQuade. Axe’s Edmonton location
will transfer ownership to Long & McQuade on May 31, 2018, while Axe’s Calgary store will,
as previously reported, close on that same day. Holowaychuk says business will continue as
usual until Axe Music Edmonton becomes a Long & McQuade location on June 1 st .
“For the last 38 years, Axe has been my life, and an amazing life it’s been. I reflect in awe
and great pride upon all of the great things we have achieved together. Axe’s success from a
small garage with a dirt floor to what it is today is a testimony to every single person in the
company and to the greatest customers that we could ever hope for. I have an immense
feeling of thanks and gratitude for all of those who have supported my many crazy ideas
over the years and my drive to make Axe the best,” Holowaychuk wrote in his Facebook post.
“I cannot say thanks enough to each and every one of you who supported us over the years;
Axe would have never existed without you. I have come to know many of you not only as
customers, but also as friends and I will always smile as I reflect back upon the crazy events
over the years, like the street hockey, hot tubs, and handing out beers and burgers in front
of the Edmonton store during Oilers playoffs. Customers coming in with cigars or jelly beans
after they had a new child. The epic store opening events. The containers of Axe Jackets. The
many amazing Axetremefest shows. The list of memories is long and great… It’s a bitter-
sweet moment for me. I have tears in my eyes as I think of what I am leaving but I know
this has to be done to allow me to chase my dreams. As I often say, ‘one life time is just not
enough,’ so make sure to live life to its fullest. I love you all and thank you all for everything.”
For more information, contact Axe Music: 866-373-3293, [email protected],
www.axemusic.com.
Orillia, ON’s Laura Lee Matthie Named MusiCounts Teacher of the Year
Canadian music education charity MusiCounts announced on Feb. 28 th that Laura Lee
Matthie of Orillia Secondary School in Orillia, ON is the 2018 recipient of the Musi-
Counts Teacher of the Year Award. The surprise announcement took place in Matthie’s
classroom with her excited students and colleagues. Matthie was honoured for her
outstanding dedication to inspiring the musical growth of her students, with some
going on to become music teachers themselves.
Matthie will receive $10,000 plus a significant contribution to her school’s music
program. In addition, she experienced VIP treatment throughout Juno Week 2018.
Matthie has been a music teacher for 22 years, two-and-a-half of which have been
spent at Orillia Secondary School. She is the recipient of the 2015 Ontario Secondary
School Teachers’ Federation Excellence in Education Teaching Award, and shows her
passion for music through her tireless efforts to promote music education in her school
and community.
For more information, contact MusiCounts: 416-485-3135, [email protected],
www.musicounts.ca.
Dawn Birr,
channel
manager
for the
Ameri-
cas for
Sennheiser
Business
Solutions,
was one
of the
honourees
at the 2018
She Rocks
SENNHEISER’S DAWN BIRR
Awards.
The awards, which pay tribute to women who
display leadership and stand out within the
music industry, are presented by the Women’s
International Music Network (WiMN) each year
during The NAMM Show.
“It is an enormous honour to be acknowl-
edged at the She Rocks Awards this year,” says
Birr. “I am very proud of Sennheiser’s unwavering
support of women in the music industry and
grateful for the platform that my work for Senn-
heiser has provided for me to engage with so
many inspiring women at the top of their field.”
Birr began her career in the audio industry in
2000, joining Sennheiser immediately follow-
ing her college graduation. Soon she received
promotions to Neumann product manager,
professional RF product m