Instructors

The Top Pros updated 9/16/2024

Don Mannino RPT Don began working with pianos in 1979 as an apprentice in a rebuilding shop then as an independent piano technician in the San Diego area. After coming to work for Kawai Pianos in 1995 as the manager of technical support, he was promoted to Director of Field Services for Shigeru Kawai Pianos. Don and his wife Patty are the editors of the Southern California Combined PTG newsletter. In 2010 he was certified in Japan as a Kawai “Master Piano Artisan” (or MPA), the Kawai company’s top level concert piano technician. In July 2018 Mr. Mannino was awarded the Piano Technicians Guild’s highest honor, the “Golden Tuning Hammer” award. Don retired from Kawai America at the end of December 2022, and continues to provide high level piano service to a limited clientele

Christian Bolduc is a technician/bellyman specializing in soundboards and pinblocks. Following his studies at Ecole du Meuble de Victoriaville to become a fine cabinet and furniture maker, he spent a full year at the Schimmel factory in Braunschweig, Germany studying piano structure and design. His combined understanding of wood and design has made him an expert in his niche. He is a constant searcher for new ideas and methods to make your rebuilding projects easier. Christian is the president and owner of Pianos Bolduc.

Jim Busby, RPT has had a varied career as a piano technician for more than 45 years. He has combined home service, and rebuilding with over 35 years of university work as a concert technician at BYU and Snow College. Extensive training from Steinway, Yamaha, Kawai and Renner has given Jim a unique perspective that few technicians have been afforded. Jim’s experience in education, coupled with his high level piano technician skills have helped him become a sought after instructor.

Torger Baland, RPT CWRVP: a piano technician serving the Twin Cities area, in addition to his CAUT and residential work.  He enjoys serving on the PTG Board.

Ryan Sowers RPT CTE Ryan has been an active member of the Piano Technicians Guild since 1992 and a Certified Tuning Examiner since 1997. His experience includes intensive training with Steinway & Sons, both at their New York factory and at Oberlin Conservatory. He has also attended week-long seminars with Shigeru Kawai, Yamaha, and the Rappaport Piano Workshop in Round Rock Texas.  Ryan was the 2013 Recipient of the Pacific NW region’s James Burton Award.  

Maria G. Pollock, RPT, AWE, TEC
Maria has dabbled with pianos since a young age, figuring out how to remove keys of our victorian
upright when I was about 8 years old. If we moved the handle of the sustain lever rod just right it
would make the piano silent and my brothers and sisters furious.
Maria is the last student of the late Virgil Smith, RPT. Though he was a pioneer in voicing in
Chicago he did not teach me voicing. I picked up intonation skills from books, PTG classes and
discourses with other technicians. I have worked as a college technician at Elmhurst University
and own a piano service company in Chicago. In summer of 2018 I had the fortune to be part of
the Shigeru Kawai academy in Los Angeles.

Lucy Urlacher, RPT:
Is the university technician for the department of music at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. She brings a wide range of experiences and serves as a CTE for the guild.

Dave Carpenter, RPT
Dave Carpenter is the lead designer of the Verituner line of electronic tuning devices and software. Dave’s background includes an engineering degree, and 25 years of exploring, teaching and enjoying all aspects of piano technology. He is a frequent instructor at PTG conventions and seminars, and an RPT member and past president of the PTG Chicago Chapter.

Gary Telleen, RPT
Gary is the owner of Midwest Piano restoration in Wichita Kansas.  He has been servicing and rebuilding pianos for 38 years first the Phoenix area and now Midwest. Gary has been a member of PTG for 33years.

Ty Uphoff, RPT is the owner and head technician of Vanguard Piano Service in Saint Louis, MO. He has over 20 years of technician experience. Over the years, he has worked closely with top retailers and manufacturers, using the skills learned to amplify his success in service. He is committed to fostering an atmosphere of growth and continued education for himself and his employees.  

Ashley Vinson is the business manager for Vanguard Piano Service and manages the Administrative Support Team for piano technicians across the country. Before finding the best career ever, she enjoyed over 15 years of creating exceptional customer experiences in both management and training roles. Ashley earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Master of Business Administration. She is passionate about making life easier for clients and technicians.

Apryl Johnston
Apryl has been tuning pianos for 21 years and really  enjoys working on the old ones and repairing them for people who want to keep their family “heirlooms” and new pianos as well. She has worked on the MRCO board for a few conventions and assisted the National Institute Team for four years and taught classes at the National level. When not working, Apryl likes playing softball and gardening. I recently took a college class and became a Master Gardener.

Timothy Barnes, RPT
Charlotte, NC
Timothy’s vision and leadership within the piano service industry is what paved the way for Gazelle to become the only all-in-one business management software for piano technicians. With a degree in Economics and Business Administration and his 20+ years experience as a Piano Technician and member of the PTG, Timothy laid out the vision for Gazelle and worked to refine the product into what it is today: the most recommended business management software in the industry.

Nathan Ehresman
Roanoke, VA
Nathan brings decades of software engineering and operational experience to the Gazelle team, focusing on the parts of the code that users all rely on but almost never see. With a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, he brings a passion for writing clean, fast code. Nathan’s software development expertise minimizes downtime, keeps our services running smoothly, and enables Gazelle to leverage infrastructure that most niche software products struggle to maintain. This includes integrations with other products and vendors like Google Maps, Stripe, Mailchimp, Twilio, and QuickBooks Online.

Debi Gould
With over a decade at Dampp-Chaser Corporation, is a seasoned expert on the Piano Life Saver System. Throughout her career, Debi has been a dedicated provider of technical support to piano technicians and piano owners. Debi’s classes on the Piano Life Saver System promise to be enlightening and draw upon her extensive knowledge and dedication to the industry.

Ann Fell, RPT,
has served pianists in south-central Kansas for over 30 years. A member of the Wichita chapter, she has held leadership roles in the chapter and served as a TEC (Certified Technical Examiner) since 2005 for PTG, including representing Central West on ETSC, and as the Chair of the Technical Exam subcommittee 2009-2012. 

Josi Davis
is a second generation piano technician.  She specializes in upright hammers and action parts as a member of the Brooks LTD team since 2009.  She has developed a custom method for upright hammer and butt pre-hanging and continues to master many other skills in grand and upright parts replacement and customization.  As a performer and songwriter, the piano holds a special place around which her favorite family memories are built.  It remains her primary writing instrument and her favorite curiosity.

Zackery  Hardy
started out helping out in Dale Fox & Brett Dearing’s rebuilding shop.  There he was able to gain experience in many aspects of rebuilding including, Soundboard replacement, Regulation, Hammer work, Action geometry, and other skills.  After that, He was hired by Burgett inc. to work with PianoDisc player piano systems, Wessell Nickel & Gross parts, and Mason & Hamlin Piano company.    At Burgett inc, he started as a PianoDisc installer,  and Wessell Nickel & Gross parts quality control specialist.  From there he graduated into other fields including design engineering, Production engineering, and Teaching.  Zackery Currently Teaches the PianoDisc installation class and various WNG classes along with other members of the PianoDisc and Wessell Nickel & Gross team.