Piano Technicians Guild
WESTPAC - Western and Pacific Regional Conference

Claudio Valent

Claudio 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 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.

Claudio Valent

Claudio 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 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.

Richard Davenport, RPT

Richard Davenport, RPT, is a concert technician, formerly a Technical Service Consultant for 24 years with Yamaha. He received advanced training at Yamaha's concert grand factory in Japan and, more recently, at the Fazioli factory in Italy. Since 1980, he has serviced pianos for 20th Century Fox Studios as well as installing a new soundboard, action and pinblock in their 1928 Steinway D. He regularly teaches PTG chapter seminars, regional and national convention classes. Richard is a recipient of the PTG 2008 Hall of Fame Award.

Keith Kopp, RPT

Keith Kopp graduated from college with a degree in music education. He taught vocal and instrumental music in the public school system in Idaho for four years and then played in Europe in a Germany Polka. After returning he began working in the retail music business. There he became acquainted with Randy Potter who convinced him he should be a piano technician. He joined PTG serving in many chapter, regional and national level offices including regional vice president. He has taught classes on all levels and has been active as a PTG examiner. While working in the retail business he became involved in sound reinforcement field providing equipment and was a sound technician for local musicians as well as nationally known artists. Along with his son who is a professional sound engineer they have taught classes both in the piano industry and sound reinforcement industry on local, state and nationally levels.

Aaron Kopp

Aaron has been in the pro-audio industry for over 15 years. He has worked with national touring artists from Oregon to Florida. He has worked in some of the harshest environments, and most difficult performance venues. He teaches a live sound class at Utah Valley University and has always placed a high priority on training and education. His favorite pastime is giving a piano technician a hard time at the concert venue, especially if it is his father.

Keith Bowman, RPT - Hailun USA

Keith has a broad background in woodworking spanning over 35 years. He has been a PTG member since 1982, has served on a number of committees and is an instructor for regional and Institute classes. He has originated a tool product line for Renner USA, and is a factory R&D consultant for Hailun USA.

Mike Carraher, RPT - Renner USA

Mike has been a member of PTG since 1979 and an examiner for the RPT exams since 1981. He designed the first repair jigs for the technical exam and still participates in their construction. For over 20 years Mike has taught various tuning and regulation classes at the local, regional and Institute levels. He makes shop fixtures for Renner USA, and is a technical consultant for Hailun USA.

Scott Jones, RPT

Scott Jones began his career as a piano technician in 1984, after receiving a BM degree in music composition from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. From 1989 to 2001, he was employed by Steinway & Sons, New York, where he held positions as concert technician, technical instructor and product development researcher. From 2001 to present, he developed the PitchLock string coupler and TouchRail systems, both being demonstrated nationwide. Scott has authored 3  U.S. patents, most recently for the TouchRail. www.pitchlock.com

Israel Stein, RPT

Israel Stein, RPT, has taught numerous classes dealing with action regulation and repairs at PTG Annual Conventions as well as Regional Conferences and chapter events. In the course of directing the PTG’s Technical Exam program from 2004 until 2009 he developed and taught the Technical Exam Hands-on Exam Prep classes during those years. Israel has administered over 100 technical examinations since he set up the technical testing program for PTG's Boston Chapter in 1989, and this experience continuously provides unique and valuable perspectives for teaching action work. A graduate of the North Bennet Street School Piano Technology program (Boston), Israel has been employed at San Francisco State University as Piano Technician for the past 6 years – besides operating his own piano service and rebuilding business. Previously his career in piano service included employment with the Boston area Steinway dealership - where his responsibilities included working as primary Boston Area Steinway concert technician - and a stint regulating and voicing brand new grands at the Mason & Hamlin factory in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Bill Brandom, RPT

Bill Brandom has worked for Yamaha over 25 years and is now Yamaha’s Senior Technical Manager. Bill has overseen the development of Disklavier service in the United States. He works with the Disklavier design engineers in Japan on a regular basis. Bill has an excellent understanding of the various Disklavier systems and has been teaching Disklavier service since 1987 to technicians throughout the United States.