John Heard

John joined Steinway’s London Service Centre as an apprentice in 1980 studying all aspects of piano servicing and rebuilding. In addition to his intense training in the workshop, he was given the opportunity to gain invaluable experience ‘in the field’ as he demonstrated a particular interest and talent in fine tuning and concert work.

With Steinway, he was given responsibility for the BBC’s piano maintenance, as well as institutional tuning and servicing throughout London’s premiere recording and concert venues.

After leaving Steinway, John joined Peter Salisbury’s elite team of technicians at the Henley Piano Galleries, the UK’s premier independent retailer of high quality new and rebuilt pianos. He subsequently specialised as a concert technician at the major London venues: Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, Henry Wood Hall, Royal Academy of Music as well as the BBC Proms.

Now the resident technician in charge of the instruments at the South Bank Centre: Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Rooms, John deals with the world’s greatest pianists and orchestras on a daily basis. John has been at the forefront of the double action concept which has become a core feature of GPS’s work.

In his 35 years in the piano industry, John has accumulated huge experience and reputation as one of the UK’s most respected concert technicians in what is arguably the busiest concert centre in the world. His experience extends to all of the major piano manufacturers, but particularly Steinway, Bechstein, Fazioli and Yamaha concert instruments. In addition, he has become one of the UK’s busiest recording session piano technicians.