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                                                                         The piano technical resource site

My name is Ray Citak, and I am the webmaster of this site and the staff piano technician at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming.  If you would like to know a little bit about me, browse my resume below. 
 

I am available for custom piano work, and am willing to travel.
Please use the "Ask a Question or Feedback" page to make inquiries.

M.M., 1973, University of Arkansas, major in piano performance.
B.M. 1970, Western Michigan University, piano performance.

Self employed piano technician and University of Wyoming piano technician, 1989 to present.  University of Wyoming part-time faculty piano technician from 2003.
Lecturer in music, piano teacher, and piano technician, University of Wyoming faculty from 1983 to 1989.
Staff piano technician, Texas Tech University, 1975 to 1983. Production supervisor, concert grand technician, Baldwin Piano Co., 1973 to 1975.  

With the University of Wyoming: piano instructor, recitalist and accompanist. Instructor in piano technology and aural skills. Served on the scholarship committee and as temporary coordinator of piano and accompanying.
Performed as recitalist and accompanist throughout career, as well as piano soloist with the Chicago Heights Symphony (high school), Kalamazoo Junior Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony, and University Orchestra at Western Michigan University.

Rebuilding technician, Westfahl's Piano Co. in Laramie, and Baldwin Piano Center, Lubbock, Tx. Experienced in all aspects of piano rebuilding including action rebuilding, new hammers, shanks and whippens, restringing, and all aspects of regulation and voicing. Extensive experience on all makes of pianos including Steinway, Baldwin, Bechstein and Bosendorfer.
Concert tuning and artist technician at Texas Tech University, University of Wyoming, and the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. Artists served include university faculty artists as well as internationally known artists Ferante and Teicher, Henry Mancinni, Peter Nero, Roger Williams, Ralph Votipek, Panayis Lyras, James Tocco, Santiago Rodriguez, Barry Douglas, Christopher O'Rilley, Ivo Pogorelich, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Andre Michel Schub, Emannuel Ax, Andras Schiff and Claude Frank.
As well as keeping the University pianos in tune and good working order, I have rebuilt dozens of Steinway grand pianos replacing action parts, hammers and shanks, and regulating and voicing to specifications. In the summer of 1997 I rebuilt both concert Steinway actions used by the University and continue to maintain all their pianos.
I have trained a number of student piano technicians as well as teaching classes in piano technology. 
I am experienced in all aspects of harpsichord tuning, repair, and regulation, and have considerable experience working with fortepianos

Awards and honors include: Competition winner, Chicago Heights Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony. Sigma Alpha Iota Outstanding Performer award. Scholarship recipient.
Elected vice-president of the local chapter of the Piano Technician's Guild in Lubbock, 1977.
August, 1988, Antic magazine super disk bonus: designer and programmer of "Keyed Up!". (details at this website:  http://www.atarimagazines.com/v7n4/keyedup.html )
Awarded second place, Educational Division, Atari Program Exchange, for a computer program that teaches note identification, 1983.
Publication of computer program and article, Compute!, 1983.
Leisure activities include golf, hiking, fly fishing, and computers. Designed and maintain websites: www.pianotechnician.com and www.principalflute.com .