Swiss Trained Piano Tuner
20 years of experience with pianos
- 1996: Piano tuner qualification certificate
- 1997: Special course in piano tuning
- 2002: Piano teaching diploma
Born in Geneva in 1975 and raised in a musical family, Serge had his first piano lesson at the age of 10.
In love with pianos
His devotion for the piano definitely grew when he combined his piano playing with his piano tuner apprenticeship. Being able to understand and restore pianos, while at the same time knowing what it should sound like from a pianist's point of view, was the beginning of his love story with pianos.
A Piano Tuner and Teacher
Following his four-year Swiss piano tuner training (considered the best in the world) with Hug Musique and Steinway Hall Switzerland, he decided to carry on with professional piano studies at the Conservatory of Music in Lausanne, which he achieved with a Teaching Diploma.
A sought-after Tuner
Having this musical baggage and knowledge of pianos, he was then employed by numerous top piano shops around the French part of his country, working for some of the most prestigious music academies.
Experience in New Zealand
Serge fell in love with New Zealand during his OE in 2002 and decided to settle here with his wife Ann in 2005. Since then it has been a pleasure to work alongside international and New Zealand leading pianists, concert venues, piano competitions, recordings and the New Zealand School of Music. Not forgetting valuable piano teachers and private customers.
"The piano sounds absolutely fabulous and I'm really enjoying playing it!"
- Marilyn Petrie - Piano teacher -
"Just wanted to say the piano is SWEET! First time the piano has been tuned properly in NZ. Thank you so much!"
- Joan Whincup -
"We have been most impressed with your work on the Grotrian in Waikanae."
- Basil Pritchett -
"My students and I found your explanation and demonstration of how the piano works very enlightening."
- Rosemary Bromley, Piano teacher -
"Thanks for doing such a great job on the piano!"
- Richie Singleton -
"Just a note to record how delighted I am by the way in which you restored my piano and tuned it. It is a delight to once again listen to it in tune and to know that it has been brought back to the performance it must of had when it was new. I feel the money spent to get the job done was very well spent and I thank you for your professionalism. "
- A happy customer -
"Thank you very much, Serge. Sounds fantastic now. Makes me want to play it more!"
- Peter Rickard -
"The only drawback with the piano sounding so great is that I'm getting sleep deprived. I just can't stop playing it and could carry on into the wee small hours."
- Marilyn Petrie - Piano teacher -
"The quality of Serge's tunings and other work is very high, and he always executes the work very professionally, promptly and in a well organized way."
- Richard Mapp, Senior Lecturer and Head of Piano Studies, NZ School of Music -
"I'm very happy with how the piano is sounding."
- Emma Sayers, Classical performance, NZ School of Music -
"Needless to say, we are grateful to have known Serge for his valuable input thus making our decision making more informed. Best of all, we have saved thousands of dollars for his input. Very impressed! "
- Theresa Fernandez -
"Thank you... The Schimmel sounded fantastic in concert."
- Ivan Patterson, Head of Music Department, Wairarapa College, Masterton -
"Our piano sounds just great now!!! "
- Andrea Buxton -
"Please pass on my thanks to Serge for his careful work on my piano, and the chocolate he left on the keyboard cover... tres Suisse!"
- Catherine Martin - Piano teacher -
"I have played concert instruments in venues in the city that Serge has tuned, as well as on pianos that he has rebuilt, and again I am happy to endorse the quality of his work."
- Richard Mapp, Senior Lecturer and Head of Piano Studies, NZ School of Music -
"Un grand merci pour votre excellent travail aujourd'hui."
- Florence Cunningham -
"We welcome your comments"
- website -
"Thanks Serge, I just tried the Steinway, and it is so much better!"
- Richard Mapp, Senior Lecturer and Head of Piano Studies, NZ School of Music -
"We have had some lovely sounds from this piano since Serge took over the tuning."
- Ralph Pyatt -