USM Registered Piano Technician Featured Presenter at International Institute

Lonnie Young, Registered Piano Technician in The University of Southern Mississippi's School of Music, was a featured presenter to more than 670 attendees, including piano service specialists, manufacturers and suppliers from around the world, at the 61^st annual Piano Technicians Guild Convention and Technical Institute in Lancaster, Pa.

Nearly 100 technicians attended their first PTG convention, and the tradeshow featured ten first time exhibitors. Education was the focus of the event with four days of classes covering all aspects of piano service as well as business and health and wellness classes. Young's presentation was the culmination of his many years of expertise.

“I owe most of what I know and do daily to these PTG events, it has served my career well to keep on top the latest service techniques and product offerings from piano manufactures," said Young. "While in Lancaster I attended 15 top-level classes and was honored to present one of my own this year.  My class, “Voicing through the Ages,” was about piano tone management techniques gathered up from many experiences throughout my 40 year career.”

The exhibit hall featured 70 booths and offered attendees the chance to inspect new tools, play many different pianos and other instruments and talk to industry representatives. Evening concerts and awards banquets were also a highlight.

“The PTG Convention is the world's largest gathering of piano technicians,” said PTG President Paul Brown, RPT. “The people who come to this event know this is the place to come to challenge yourself with long days of learning from the best technicians in the business.”

Young is a 40 year veteran of the Piano Technology field.  Currently serving the University of Southern Mississipi School of Music for 22 years.  He also serves on the College and University Technicians comitee.

An annual event since 1958, the PTG Convention is the world's largest piano technology convention.