Rhodes Stage 61 and MK8 MIDI Selected as Finalists for the 2026 NAMM TEC Awards
Leeds, United Kingdom, December 16, 2025 — Rhodes Music is pleased to announce that the Stage 61 and the MK8 MIDI have been selected as finalists for the 41st Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards in the Musical Instrument Hardware category. The TEC Awards, which honor innovation and technical achievement across the professional audio and music technology industries, will take place during The NAMM Show on January 22, 2026, in Anaheim, California. Voting is now open and runs through January 12, 2026.
Click here to vote for the Rhodes Stage 61 and MK8 MIDI
“It’s an honour to have not one, but two of our products nominated for the prestigious TEC Awards,” says Rhodes Music CEO Matt Pelling. “As we continue to push boundaries at Rhodes, recognition like this reinforces our commitment to our mission of creating the very finest instruments possible.”
Both nominated products reflect Rhodes’ continued commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and performance and production workflows. For a brief overview of each, please see the descriptions below.
Rhodes Stage 61
The Stage 61 is a compact, fully passive tine piano designed for performers who want the unmistakable touch and sound of a Rhodes in a portable, gig-ready format. Featuring the same Steinway-designed Kluge keybed found in the flagship MK8 and a pure analog signal path with classic volume and tone controls, the Stage 61 delivers an authentic Rhodes experience in the most compact form factor the company has ever produced. At 59 lbs, it is built for both touring and studio use, with a limited Launch Edition designed by Axel Hartmann introduced at release.
Rhodes MK8 MIDI
The MIDI MK8 is Rhodes’ first fully integrated, touchless MIDI system for the MK8 electromechanical piano, developed to expand the instrument’s expression and control capabilities without altering its mechanical action. Its proprietary high-resolution sensing engine enables polyphonic aftertouch, channel aftertouch, and detailed parameter automation across more than 30 onboard MK8 controls. Designed for both performance and studio environments, the system allows players to control virtual instruments, DAWs, and hardware devices — while maintaining the MK8’s signature feel and acoustic purity.
About Rhodes
For Rhodes loyalists around the world, this is a new chapter in Rhodes' history, not a new book. With the Rhodes MK8, we’re returning to the principles, aesthetic, craftsmanship, and pride of Harold Rhodes’ originals. We’re paying homage to the past with our gaze fixed firmly on what lies ahead.
For more information, visit www.rhodesmusic.com.
Hunter Williams
