Complete Restoration & Repair Services

Henry Nicolaides

Background & Biography

  • Studied piano with Dr. Fred Denker and Dr. Steven Barwick at Southern Illinois University School of Music 1967-1970
  • Tuned and repaired first upright piano 1969 & restrung first grand piano with John Wharton (Violin professor SIU) 1970
  • Taught piano lessons at Egyptian Music in DuQuoin and Murphysboro
  • Started actively tuning in 1970 and rebuilding in 1976, tuned and repaired in Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky through 1978
  • Achieved Craftsman Status as a registered tuner/technician in the Piano Technicians Guild in 1979

Moved to Houston, Texas in 1979 and began working as a piano rebuilder AND tuner/technician. Became self-employed in mid 1979 working in the greater Houston metropolitan area as well as the Galveston Bay area.

Pianos restored have been primarily Steinway, Baldwin, Weber, Mason & Hamlin, Knabe, and Chickering, many from the pre depression era. These pianos were, and still are, considered to come from the peak of quality and the best of craftsmanship in American piano manufacturing. I have also serviced and tuned many fine European and Japanese manufactured pianos such as Bechstein, Bluthner, Schimmel, Petroff, Kawai, and Yamaha.

Clients

My clients have ranged from individuals, piano teachers, schools, colleges, churches, and music stores. Some were:

  • Forshey Piano Company - currently the Steinway dealer in Houston
  • Brook-Mays Piano and Organ - Steinway and Yamaha dealer, Yamaha Gold Bond Warranty Service Technician
  • Ginsberg Music - Baldwin Piano dealer in Galveston
  • Whitby Piano and Organ - Kawai dealer and Piano rebuilders
  • H & H Music - Baldwin and Kawai dealers, Houston
  • College of the Mainland, Texas City
  • Galveston College, Galveston
  • University of Houston, Clear Lake Campus
  • Clear Lake Chamber Orchestra, Clear Lake (Houston): Lorraine Merrill, Pianist and Musical Director
  • Galveston School District, Galveston: Leonard Gilbert, Chair Music Department
  • Texas City School District, Texas City
  • Trinity Episcopal Church and School, Galveston: Ron Wyatt, Organist and Music Director
  • Galveston Opera House, Galveston
  • And, numerous piano teachers in the Bay Area Music Teachers Association, to name a few: Lorraine Merrill, Lucy Anderson, Barbara Bose, Jo Ann Howard, and Martha George