More about William Young Pianos
Originally a one-man band, our reputation has grown and the business has flourished alongside it.
Piano restoration has always been at the heart of William Young Pianos, and remains so to this day. We usually have around a year’s worth of private restoration jobs on the books at any one time, despite increasing our team in recent years to try to keep pace with demand.
If you're in the market for a piano, contact us to find out current availability. With a wealth of knowledge and experience across the entire team, everyone at William Young Pianos Ltd is dedicated to finding you the right piano to combine your requirements and budget - whether new, second-hand or restored.
We are now settled in to our new workshop and showroom at Kentisbeare, Devon EX15 2BQ. Building work is progressing well, and will result in a superb work space and much larger showroom than we have ever had previously. We are trading as normal, but if you visit us at the moment, please do bear with us while work is ongoing.
Our premises is a few minutes' drive from Junction 28 of the M5, within easy reach of Exeter, Bristol, Taunton, Tiverton, Honiton, Cullompton and Wellington – well situated for clients to visit. As we are a small team and often out on the road, we ask that visits be by appointment please, so that we can ensure we are available to discuss your requirements.
Meet the team
In recent years the business has grown significantly. The team now comprises:
William Young
Director
William (Bill) Young is a classically trained pianist who began his studies aged 6. His fascination with pianos was sparked at a young age when his late father took him to a piano workshop.
Bill learned his trade as an apprentice to traditional piano restorers in Winchester, before setting up his own business in 1994. He now has over 30 years’ experience within the piano trade and has developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of pianos, through painstakingly detailed restoration work on a vast range of instruments.
Henry Perry
Piano Restorer
Our brilliant technician and restorer Henry is also a concert pianist, so there’s no-one more discerning when it comes to quality control in the workshop! He holds a Master's degree in piano performance and was named Steinway Fellow of the Year at the London College of Music during his time there.
Henry's patience, high standards and meticulous regulation work are in great demand by numerous musicians whose pianos pass through our workshop. Henry is highly skilled in all areas of piano restoration, from action rebuilds and restringing to casework. As the most organised member of the team by far, Henry also manages the workshop schedule.
Tom Read
Tuner and Technician
Tom is our head piano tuner as well as a qualified and experienced technician. His is the face you’re most likely to see out and about.
Tom graduated from Newark Piano School in 2019 with a qualification in Piano Tuning, Restoration and Repair. He takes care of most of our tunings and undertakes repairs that can be done in clients’ homes, as well as advising on larger repairs. He also books tuning appointments for both himself and Barnaby, who has joined Tom part-time to assist with his workload.
Our tuning and maintenance service covers a huge area which continues to grow every year. When not on the road, Tom spends as many days as possible in the workshop. He enjoys undertaking all aspects of piano restoration alongside Bill and Henry.
Tom and Barnaby have tuned for numerous famous faces at festivals, public concerts and private events, including Alexander Armstrong, Alfie Boe, Benjamin Clementine, Will Dutta, Jack Johnson, Keane, Des O'Connor and the Ronnie Scott Jazz 5.
Pixie
Supervisor
Pixie is often in the workshop and poses the moment she sees a camera! Her skills include squirrel surveillance and making friends with clients and delivery people. Pixie loves to go out on the van when she's allowed to and is the undisputed queen of our social media feeds! She even has her own Instagram account - follow her @pixieyoung2015
Pixie is a firm favourite with the lovely ladies at Kentisbeare shop and Post Office in the village, where she inevitably runs behind the counter to find her treats!
Barnaby Carter
Tuner
Barnaby Carter has joined the William Young Pianos team part time to help with Tom's tuning and minor repair workload as our tuning business expands.
Barnaby completed a traditional 4 year apprenticeship at a piano workshop in Bristol, before gaining a first class degree in piano tuning and restoration at Newark College, the well respected and last remaining training facility for aural piano tuning in England.
Barnaby and Tom have tuned for numerous famous faces at festivals, public concerts and private events, including Alexander Armstrong, Alfie Boe, Benjamin Clementine, Will Dutta, Jack Johnson, Keane, Des O'Connor and the Ronnie Scott Jazz 5.
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The Scrapbook
Pianos we've worked on, from cottage uprights to concert grands