John Callahan
John, the Owner/ Operator of Callahan Piano Service since 1975, is a member
of the Piano Technicians Guild and received the highest classification of Registered
Piano Technician in 1978. Under his guidance, Callahan Piano Service has grown
to be the largest piano service organization in the San Francisco Bay Area with
over 11,000 customers including numerous churches, recording studios, recital
halls, and musicians. Click here for a Special Message from John Callahan.
"One of John Callahan's great qualities, apart from his redoubtable skills as a restorer, is to be able to communicate the often arcane intricacies of piano repair to the non-expert without its ever feeling as if he is talking down to you. He generously reviewed the parts of my manuscript for "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank" that dealt with the technical details of tuning and repairing, gently steering me in a direction that made the fundamental principles clearer both to me and to my readers. He's a true teacher with an unbounded passion for his subject. No wonder his customers are so loyal! " (read more) -- Thad Carhart, author of The Piano Shop on the Left Bank
Jim Callahan, Jr.
Jim Jr. is President of Piedmont Piano Company, located in Oakland, California.
This is the sales side of the Callahan family piano business and features fine
quality new and used Yamaha, Fazioli, Steinway, Pleyel, and other fine pianos. Rentals,
as well as digital pianos, are also available.
Michael Callahan
Michael operated his own piano service in the South Bay Area from 1982 to 1990.
Since joining Callahan Piano Service he has specialized in concert and in-home
tuning, regulation, and voicing for our most discriminating clients.
Matt Callahan
Matt, who "grew up with a tuning hammer in his hand", has occasionally left
the family business for stints as an actor, musician, stand-up comic, and singer.
He has been back with us full-time since 1995, servicing pianos in the home,
yet he still finds time for sailing on the bay in his Islander 36, Gypsy, and performing
with the Lamplighters.
Photo by John Korty 2009
Steve Willis
Although not technically a Callahan, Steve has been with us since 1978. He
is a Master Piano Re-builder and our shop foreman. Steve is also a professional
pianist, singer, and songwriter, and in 1998 was inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall
of Fame. Click here for more on Steve: http://www.sewillis.com
Rhys McKay
Rhys, a Master Piano Re-builder with over 30 years experience, has
worked closely with the Callahans for over 20 years. He rejoined our
company full-time in 2000 and, together with Shop Foreman Steve Willis,
is responsible for the incredible action and belly work being done in
our workshop.
Douglas Braak
Douglas joined us in 2002, and has 30 years experience in all
facets of piano service and rebuilding, and is one of the certified
Stanwood PTD installers in the shop. He has a Bachelor of Music in
Piano Performance from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.
Thomas Malone
Thomas joined the CPS team in 2008. Previously he had been Head Piano
Technician at Baldwin Piano. A Registered Piano Technician and
Certified Precision Touch Design Installer, he has worked as a piano
technician for over thirty years. Thomas holds an M.M. in flute
performance from the University of Southern California.
Grant Hillmeyer
Grant is truly a master at the craft of furniture refinishing. His shop,
Bepler Furniture Service, is in Sonora, California, where he lives with
his wife and two children. We know it's far away,
but Grant is the best, and we can't resist sending our customers'
pianos to him. Like his father-in-law before him, his relationship
with Callahan Piano Service goes back many years.
Brandon Essex
Brandon is a great technician who promises to give us his bio soon.
Oliver Jaggi
Oliver Jaggi has been involved in the world of piano technology since 1989 and
joined the Callahan Piano team in 2014. Oliver specializes in tuning, regulating,
voicing and concert level piano preparation. Besides pianos, Oliver has helped build some of the largest
pipe organs in America and designs and builds high end custom guitars.
Patrick Murphy
Patrick is a great technician who promises to give us his bio soon.
Elizabeth Hillis
Always a piano technician at heart, Elizabeth worked for John in the 1980s. She then took a 30+
year hiatus and John graciously welcomed her back to CPS in 2017. She currently fills in and does action
work as needed. How's that for life coming full circle?
Bernardo Palau
Bernardo is a great technician who promises to give us his bio soon.
Bob the Dog
Originally from Austin, Texas, Bob hitched a ride to California in 1999 with his pal
Trisha, when she returned after 10 years away from the Bay Area. Bob
takes his role as Shop Dog seriously at CPS, where he keeps a careful
ear out for the UPS and FedEx trucks, and monitors the field outside
the shop for squirrel, goose and jack rabbit activity. However, his
favorite responsibility is dispensing his Zen-like wisdom at piano
parties.
Caryn Combis
Caryn Combis works at our Oakland Headquarters as Callahan Piano
Service's office manager. Caryn's diverse background--experience not
only in library science and document control, but also retail
merchandising, purchasing, and advertising--renders her ready for all
the administrative curve balls the shop team can throw! A San Francisco
native, Caryn has been a long time Oakland resident; she joined
Callahan Piano Service in 2000.
Founding Father
Our founding father, Jim Callahan Sr. (1927-2016) was a professional musician, played French horn with
the San Francisco Symphony from 1956 to 1985. He apprenticed with Bay Area piano
tuning legend Peter Wolford and began a part-time piano service in 1957. Jim
Sr.'s love of music and pianos seems to have influenced his four sons, all devoted
to the business, as well as his four daughters, all accomplished musicians, one of
whom, Tricia spent many years with Callahan Piano [more about her here].
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