Who We are...
Anne Fleming-Read
| Anne Fleming-Read is a graduate from
the Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario
as well as one of the first graduates of the Piano Technology
Program when it was run under the auspices of George
Brown College. During her studies and after graduation,
Anne immersed herself in all facets of piano work. Anne eventually became the full-time co-ordinator of the Piano Technology program at George Brown College and was instrumental in the decision to enhance the program by moving it to a professional faculty environment such as the one found at UWO. In her continuing role as co-ordinator, Anne energetically and consistently refines the program to expose the student to as many aspects of the piano business as possible. She works closely with piano companies to ensure students are well trained for the needs of today's piano industry. Keeping a private clientele as well as affiliations in the acoustic keyboard business allows her to offer well rounded and up to date instruction. |
Don
Stephenson
| Don
Stephenson joined the Faculty of Music in
1980 where he became the Head Piano Technician. Currently
he holds the position of Senior Technical Officer and
Assistant to the Dean for Keyboards and Technology.
Throughout his life Don has had a passion for pianos
combined with a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit. His passion for pianos has manifested itself in his decades of experience in piano and keyboard tuning, repair, design, building and restoration. His entrepreneurial nature has given him a vast knowledge of the private piano industry, including wholesale and retail sales. His continued participation in these endeavours has resulted in business opportunities throughout North America and Europe as well as a busy schedule servicing his private tuning clientele. In addition to his work within an academic setting and his years of private service, Don has had a 25 year affiliation with the Stratford Festival, where he is responsible for piano and harpsichord maintenance. His long association with this world renowned artistic enterprise has given Don the opportunity to work closely with many of music's premier artists. As well as being a practitioner, Don is also an educator with a keen interest in preparing students for the future demands of the piano industry. Don was invited to consult to the Piano Committee formed by the Ontario Arts Council in 1976, and subsequently became a founding member of George Brown College's Piano Technician Program in 1977. Don served as tuning instructor for the last decade of that program's existence until it moved to the university environment in the year 2000. |
Paul Poppy
| Paul
Poppy ,a native of British Columbia, moved
to Ontario to study music in London. During his time
at UWO, Paul became interested in the mechanical aspects
of the piano and other keyboard instruments. He was
encouraged to consider a career in the piano service
industry by the Faculty of Music's resident technician. After completing graduate studies at UWO, Paul enrolled in the Piano Technology Program at George Brown College. While living in Toronto, Paul also availed himself of opportunities to indulge a long-standing interest in historical keyboard instruments. In the early 80's, Paul returned to the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Music as part of a team of Piano Technicians responsible for restoring and maintaining Western's extensive inventory of keyboard instruments. Presently Paul's primary focus is the "care and feeding" of a growing collection of period instruments including harpsichords, clavichords and fortepianos. The need for high quality piano bass strings resulted in the Faculty acquiring equipment for manufacturing their own. Paul helped to develop systems to analyse and calculate string properties, and he continues to produce high quality strings to fill the needs of the Faculty and discriminating Piano Technicians. In addition to his work on behalf of the Faculty of Music, Paul maintains an active private client list as well as "keeping his hand in" performing. Paul has been active as a church organist for many years and presently serves as music director and organist of Bishop Cronyn Church in London. |
