New South Wales
 Ara Vartoukian - Partner/Concert Technician
Cert. of Piano Tuning & Technology (SCM) with Merit
Ara Vartoukian founded Theme & Variations Piano Services in 1985 as a service/piano repair company and expanded the business to include a retail showroom. Prior to forming Theme & Variations, Ara was lecturer in charge at the School of Piano Tuning & Technology at Sydney Conservatorium of Music from 1982 and 1985 and has also participated in piano technology conventions across Australia and New Zealand.
In 1997, Ara was awarded the exclusive dealership for Steinway & Sons pianos in NSW and in 2005 was also awarded the exclusive dealership for Steinway & Sons in QLD. Ara has gained vast experience studying with many piano manufacturing companies around the world including Steinway, Yamaha, Ibach, Grotrian Steinweg, Boesendorfer, Bechstein and Young Chang. As well as taking care of pianos across many private homes, educational institutions and performance venues around Sydney, Ara also helps the many pianos that come into Theme & Variations find the right place to call home.
 Phil Sander - Sales Manager
HND in Musical Instrument Technology, London
City and Guilds Piano Tuning & Technology, London
Phil joined Steinway & Sons in 1986 and worked as a piano technician, traveling around the world working with many renowned concert and recording artists including Mikhail Pletnev and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Phil left Steinway Hall, London in 2003 bringing his incomparable knowledge working with Steinway pianos to Sydney, where sunny beaches, sailing and an outdoor lifestyle has kept him from returning to the United Kingdom.
 Caroline Lee - Marketing Manager
A.Mus.A (Distinction)
B.A. Communications (Public Communications)
Caroline found her vocation when she serendipitously came across Theme & Variations in 2004 where she was able to combine her love of music with her public relations background. Caroline joined the piano team as Product Manager, taking charge of marketing, communications, events and sponsorships. Her musical achievements include having her HSC composition selected by the Board of Studies for ‘Encore’ – a concert featuring outstanding HSC music students, and between 1998 and 2001, Caroline was a piano and musicianship teacher at a private music school.
Jack Grigorian - Operations Manager/Technician
 Diploma in Piano Technologu (Melbourne - Preston Institute)
Jack joined Theme & Variations in 2009 and comes with a wealth of business experience after running three of his own successful companies. Jack tunes, restores, repairs and rebuilds pianos in our workshop as well as keeping the showroom running smoothly.
 Ken Hatfield/Technician
Diploma in Piano Technology (Sydney Conservatorium of Music)
Ken graduated from the Conservatorium of Music’s Piano Technology Course with the highest marks of all graduates in 2006 and was immediately taken on board at Theme & Variations. Ken currently services pianos all around Sydney and has trained with the Steinway Academy in Hamburg to complete an advanced technician’s course to further his knowledge on service and restoration of pianos.
 Nyree Vartoukian - Partner
Nyree looks after the hearts, minds and stomachs of everyone that works and visits Theme & Variations.
Queensland
Greg Thompson - QLD Manager
B.Mus.Ed (QCGU), M.Ed. (USQ), MTAQ
Greg is based at the Brisbane showroom and comes to Theme & Variations Piano Services with a background in education and marketing. After graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium, he worked in various places such as Vanuatu, the Torres Strait and China. Having seen more the world than of Australia, Greg is happy to plan a few travels with his family to various corners of the continent.
Paul Knight - Concert Technician/Workshop Manager
Paul currently is a full-time technician with Theme & Variations Piano Services restores and services pianos all around Queensland and has trained with the Steinway Academy in Hamburg to complete an advanced technician’s course to further his knowledge on service and restoration of pianos.
 Brian Wilson - Technician
Since completing an apprenticeship in 1988, Brian has worked for various retailers around Brisbane and also enjoyed a period of self employment. Having the opportunity over the past 20 years to work on all brands and a range of models, Brian has found his real passion lies in grand piano tuning and preparation. This passion further grew when he had the opportunity to study overseas, with training in Japan in 2001 with Kawai, and in 2007, Schimmel in Germany. Brian has a varied cliental from the student and hobby pianists through to professional music teachers in private practice to tertiary level as well as leading schools, including Somerset College (all Steinway School) and Moreton Bay College. He is currently the resident technician for The Queensland Orchestra’s studios in West End and also prepares the pianos for ABC Classic FM for live broadcasts and recording sessions. |
