Sylvie Fouanon

Piano restorer

I was an apprentice at the age of 15, working at Maison Balleron. It was my family which inspired me: with them, the “beautiful piano” was always the centre of attention. In the focussed calm of the workshop, I devoted myself to hands-on work. I am passionate about the skills I learnt there, and about keeping the craft alive. I have been breathing life back into our musical heritage with every restoration I have undertaken over the last thirty years. Through my work I help enthusiasts access this history, and encourage others to discover it. My passion is restoring, preserving and conserving pianos made between 1840 and 1940, and the exceptional heritage they represent. Insofar as is possible, I use the techniques and materials available at the time the pianos were created. I work for as long as it takes to produce the best result, ensuring the musician is captivated by the physical and musical beauty of the instrument.