INSTRUCTORS

John began working in his father’s piano rebuilding shop in 1995 and joined the Piano Technicians Guild in 1996. What began as an apprenticeship developed into a career rebuilding and servicing Steinway & Sons and other fine grand pianos.

He took over the rebuilding business in 2006 and has continued the hands-on tradition his father established—careful evaluation, precision work, and attention to the small details that determine how a fine piano ultimately feels and sounds.

When John is not in the shop working on pianos, you can usually find him in the shop, working on pianos.

Starr Taylor started with the family piano tuner in 1985 at age 23. A journeyman machinist & guitarist at the time, he was ready for a new career... 

In 1987, Starr moved to Tampa bay and started his piano tuning & rebuilding business. Early on, he worked for a couple of used piano dealers and was able to work on early American instruments from 1900 to the 1930s along with a smattering of early European instruments. Most were in pretty bad shape and made to play. He then started with a Young Chang & Petrof piano dealer in 1991. In 1997, He was asked to work for the Steinway dealer and attended classes at Steinway, NY and finally moved away from dealers in 2003. His first soundboard installation was in 2003, a Mason & Hamlin Model A, and the latest is a 1925 Steinway Model B. For piano service,  Starr tunes 450 to 500 pianos a year and offers keybushing, keytops, all-day service, action building with Stanwood protocols, regulation & voicing.  He loves the old instruments for the challenges they present and he rides motorcycles for therapy... 

For the PTG, Starr has been a member since 1988. He's the current President of SWFL#337 and has held all chapter offices. He teaches technicals at the local level and has taught at all-day seminars for the past several years. He's taught at the national level since 2019 and taught with Ray Negron of Ronsen Piano Hammers at the regional & national level from 2008 to 2018.  Always learning, he's authored several articles for the Journal and just taught 2 classes in Christchurch, New Zealand at the 2025 Australasian Piano Tuners & Technicians Convention. 

After graduating from The University of North Texas with a degree in Piano Technology,  Dave Conte RPT wanted to fulfill his community’s need for the high level of craftsmanship required to maintain, restore, and improve fine pianos. What began as a piano tuning and service business in 1992 has since evolved into an essential hub for piano restoration and sales of elegant new Petrof pianos. We’re the exclusive authorized merchant of Petrof pianos in the Southeastern United States, and we even offer private instruction through The East Tennessee Academy of Piano Technology. Here, you’ll find the experience, honesty, and knowledge necessary to achieve your artistic goals. Dave prides himself on his attention to detail and extensive technical expertise -- so whether you’re just getting started in the world of music or are a seasoned artist, you and your instrument are in great hands.

Josi Davis is the General Manager of Brooks LTD and a 20-year veteran of the piano industry. A second-generation technician, her career reached a pivotal moment at the 2009 PTG Annual Convention when an encounter with the Brooks family transformed her "back-up plan" as a songwriter into a dedicated professional journey.  Under the mentorship of Wally and Melanie Brooks, Amy Tiernan and John Gallen, Josi became an expert in hammer replacement and now leads Brooks LTD operations with a unique blend of passion and precision. An avid educator, she teaches hammer replacement methods nationwide while maintaining her career as a performing artist.  Explore: www.josidavis.com/music  Connect: www.brooksltdonline.com

Allan Gilreath, RPT, has spent 48 years learning piano technology — from a Baldwin factory internship and training at Bechstein University to nine years as Bechstein America's Service Consultant. A Registered Piano Technician, he studied concert voicing, action design, and soundboard building directly under some of the finest technicians and designers in the trade. As a longtime instructor and Journal contributor, he brings a wealth of practical knowledge in getting the job done. Students get techniques proven on concert stages and in the field, as well as the underlying theory — from someone who lives it every day.

Maggie Jusiel, BS, MM, has over 30 years teaching experience ranging from private instrumental lessons to the college classroom, and has most recently been teaching for The Butler School of Piano Technology. She started working in piano technology in 2002 and joined the Guild in 2004. Since then, she has attended Yamaha's Little Red Schoolhouse, served on a few PTG committees, and received the Jack Greenfield, Crowl-Travis Member of Note, and Examiner of the Year awards. She completed the aural portion of The Butler School of Piano Technology and became an RPT in 2020, became a CTE in 2022, and became a TEC in 2024. Her current passions include creating videos about aural tuning for her YouTube channel and working on curriculums for "Piano Tuning Camps" which will hopefully lead to a method book.

Willem “Wim” blees started working on pianos in his dad’s shop when he was 12

years old. After he graduated from college and taught band and chorus for six years, he started his full time piano service business in 1977 in St. louis, Missouri.  Then from 2001 – 2007 he was the piano technician for the University of Alabama. In 2007 he and his wife moved to Hawaii, and in 2021 he retired from full time piano work and moved to Florida.

Wim has given lectures at over 55 PTG seminars and conventions on a wide variety of subjects including tuning, repairing, rebuilding and business. He has also taught the at the Europiano Conference in Warsaw, Poland, at the APPTA conventions in Adelaide and Brisbane, and at Malaysian PTG seminars. Wim has served on the PTG Board of Directors as the Central West Vice President and was a CTE for many years. He was the president of the Central Florida Chapter, and the chairman of the 2024 PTG Southeast Regional Seminar. At the PTG Convention in Orlando Florida in 2021, Wim was awarded the Member of Note.

Ashley Turner RPT graduated from Southwestern University, Georgetown TX, in 1988 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology; her first love. For fifteen years, she supervised teams of counselors working with adults with serious and persistent mental illness in community based settings (post-hospitalization residential and independent living settings). 

Leaping from one listening profession to another, she followed in her brother Craig's footsteps into Piano Technology; her second love. Here she has enjoyed a 22-year career as an independent piano technician and has been lovingly bestowed meaningful volunteer opportunities with the Piano Technicians Guild. 

Tobias Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Piano Company, is a third-generation Piano Technician. The Hamilton family started working on pianos in 1955 when Tobias’s grandfather was trained by Steinway. Today, Hamilton Piano Company completely rebuilds pianos in West Palm Beach, Florida.  Tobias started learning piano technology at a very young age and he was the first in his family to open a piano rebuilding facility, in 2008. Now the company consists of 30 employees and continues to grow yearly.

Tobias Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Piano Company, is a third-generation Piano Technician. The Hamilton family started working on pianos in 1955 when Tobias’s grandfather was trained by Steinway. Today, Hamilton Piano Company completely rebuilds pianos in West Palm Beach, Florida.  Tobias started learning piano technology at a very young age and he was the first in his family to open a piano rebuilding facility, in 2008. Now the company consists of 30 employees and continues to grow yearly.

Tobias Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Piano Company, is a third-generation Piano Technician. The Hamilton family started working on pianos in 1955 when Tobias’s grandfather was trained by Steinway. Today, Hamilton Piano Company completely rebuilds pianos in West Palm Beach, Florida.  Tobias started learning piano technology at a very young age and he was the first in his family to open a piano rebuilding facility, in 2008. Now the company consists of 30 employees and continues to grow yearly.