NEW! All Day with Fazioli

Recently presented in St. Petersburg, Russia. Exclusively at WestPac II.

Claudio ValentClaudio Valent and Rick Baldassin, RPT

Claudio Valent

Claudio ValentClaudio Valent’s involvement with Fazioli dates back to 1980, before the company was officially established. He literally saw the birth of Fazioli pianos from the very beginning, personally helping and assisting in the evolution of these fine instruments.

His early experiences at the factory were under the authoritative guidance of Lino Tiveron, who was renowned for his long-standing care of the pianos of the great Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Claudio started with stringing and string winding, keyboard preparation and gluing hammers, and then progressed to damper installation and action regulation. Within a short time, he began tuning and voicing, and these became his favorites. Claudio received additional training with Paul Stöckle at Piano Fischer (Stuttgart, Germany), Heiner Sanwald (Freiburg, Germany), and Rick Baldassin (Salt Lake City). In addition, he has had the opportunity to meet and exchange information and experiences with numerous piano technicians at the Fazioli factory, which he considers a valuable opportunity for mutual growth.

Since 1991, he has taken care of concert service for Fazioli in the most important theaters in Italy, such as Sala Verdi of the Conservatory in Milan, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Teatro La Fenice in Venice. This has given him the opportunity to work for some of the world’s great artists, such as Angela Hewitt, Herbie Hancock, Martha Argerich, Alfred Brendel, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and many others.

Claudio has been involved with the testing of Fazioli pianos in music schools and conservatories in Italy, Thailand, Lithuania, France, Spain, England, Austria, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Russia, and Slovenia. He regularly holds training courses at the factory for technicians from around the world that service Fazioli pianos. Additionally, he has conducted seminars for technicians in Shanghai (2006), Moscow (2008), Ho Chi Minh City (2009), and St. Petersburg (2011).

Claudio has been the head technician at Fazioli since 1988, dealing with the tuning and final voicing of all the instruments at the factory. He is a member of AIARP, the Italian Association of Piano Tuners and Repairers.

Rick Baldassin, RPT - Renner USA

Rick BaldassinRick received his education and piano technology training from Brigham Young University. He is the author of the book On Pitch, which was recently re-published. Rick served as the Tuning Editor for the Journal from 1987 to 1991. His teaching has taken him to piano factories and conventions throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, Korea and Australia. Rick has served as the Concert Technician for the Utah Symphony for over 20 years, and has been the Teaching and Technical Consultant for Renner since 1989. He has been trained in the concert and artist programs of Fazioli, Steinway and Yamaha, and has been a consultant to the Falcone, Mason & Hamlin, and Pramberger Piano Companies. Rick also serves as the Technical Support Director for Fazioli in North America. He is a Member of Note, Jim Burton, and Hall of Fame award winner. Rick and his wife Cindy currently operate Baldassin Pianos, a full-line rebuilding and retail showroom located in Salt Lake City.

This will be a rare opportunity to spend the day with Fazioli’s concert technicians.

Claudio Valent, chief concert technician for Fazioli, has taught extensively throughout the world. Now, for the first time ever in the United States, he is coming to WestPac II. Rick Baldassin, Director of Technical Services for Fazioli in North America, will assist him.

Rick will provide a 10-year-old Fazioli model 308 (10’2”) grand that has seen extensive concert use, from New York to Los Angeles. You will have the opportunity to observe the processes necessary to restore it to the best possible performance level.

A new set of hammers will have been installed. You will then be able to observe the voicing procedures used at Fazioli. The entire process will be explained and your questions will be answered. This will be like spending a day at the factory in Italy.

BONUS: All those in attendance will receive a special gift from Fazioli.