Ben Gac Registered Piano Technician

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* Clientele

Bio

* Tuning               * Repair          * Regulation

Ben Gac was born in Los Alamos, NM.  He grew up studying music, learning to play many instruments; the piano, guitar, trombone, and harmonica.  Singing became Ben's musical passion, and he attended the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. Ben attended graduate school at the Cleveland Institute of Music to continue his vocal studies. He now resides in Oak Park, IL, and remains an active musician in the Chicagoland area.  Ben is an Assistant Chorus Director at Lombard Mennonite Church, and sings baritone as a Associate Chorus member in the Chicago Symphony Chorus.  Ben took an interest in piano technology when Oscar Roth, a fellow member at Lombard Mennonite Church who was a piano technician, announced his plans for retirement--thereby introducing Ben to the profession.  Ben became eager to learn more about this unique vocation--one that provides just the right balance of mechanical ingenuity and musicality--a perfect fit for him! Ben attended the Chicago School for Piano Technology, and quickly began running a successful business in Chicagoland.  He began doing work at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, and for the piano dealer American Music World.  Less than 6 months after completing piano technology school Ben passed the Registered Piano Technician exams--rigourous examinations designed to test one's knowledge of piano tuning, repair, and regulation.  In the summer of 2007 Ben joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops at the Tanglewood Music Festival to tune pianos.  While he was there he had the opportunity to interact with many high calibur musicians and improve his finer, high-level, performance piano preparing abilities.  Ben gained much exposure to the intricacies of Steinway pianos while there, and now offers specialty services in Steinway pianos.  Ben returned to Chicagoland in the fall of 2007 and continues to service pianos in Chicagoland.  He does work at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and services pianos at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.  Ben also tunes for the largest Steinway dealer in Chicago, "Steinway Chicago" in Downers Grove, IL, and for the Fazioli dealer "Pianoforte", and continues his work at Wheaton College--not to mention keeping up with his private clientele that makes up most of his business! Ben is an active member of the Chicago Chapter of the Piano Technician's Guild; he also spends time working with the chapter's piano donation program "Gift of Pianos". Ben is married to his wife, Christy, and resides in Oak Park, IL.