Ralph Thorn is an independent piano technician, specializing in rebuilding historically significant pianos, whether it be your family’s 20^th century heirloom grand or upright, or an early 19^th century piano most suited for performance of Haydn and Mozart. Ralph has worked his entire career in the piano business, from his five years working in a London piano and organ store and teaching facility, through almost fifty years as a full-time independent piano technician. Ralph Thorn provides piano tuning services to London and Middlesex County, and is able to repair any piano performance or structural problem. As an accomplished musician, Ralph Thorn can offer professional advice on how to maximize your piano’s musical capability. He brings to your piano a keen ear and a sensitive touch.

Residing with his wife on their country property outside Strathroy since 1983, Ralph serves customers in London, Strathroy and throughout Middlesex and Lambton counties (Ontario, Canada).

Ralph has an extensive collection of pianos, representing the evolution of the piano in its various forms – square, upright, grand.

above photo: grand piano rebuilt by Ralph Thorn in 1978 and maintained since that time

Biography

Ralph Thorn studied piano from the age of six with Doris Watts of London, Ontario, attaining his A.Mus Performance.  He progressed to playing organ in church, studying with Gordon Atkinson, reaching his 2^nd A.Mus.  For 35 years Ralph Thorn worked as a church music director, retiring from regular weekly duties in 2004, but since then has served as interim music director in various churches.

Although Ralph was intending to pursue a career in the sciences, his musical background drew him to study the relationship between music and physics.  A math project in high school focused on the mathematics of sound harmonics and their use by piano tuners (he got a perfect score), and in university Ralph was commissioned to modify an electronic keyboard to have four different styles of tunings for use in the Physics of Music course.  While at university Ralph Thorn started working part-time in the studios of the London Yamaha Music Centre as an instructor of piano and organ, and in June 1971 after university he was appointed Service Manager for the busy store.  With the encouragement and guidance of piano technicians Al Windsor and Don Stephenson, Ralph attended technical workshops and courses offered by Yamaha, where he found his true calling in caring for pianos.  Since becoming independent in 1975, he has served the London Ontario region, his rebuilding skills sought by music schools, teachers and private owners of pianos.  While living in London he had three successive workshops ranging from 600 square feet through to 2400 square feet, and with as many as seven full-time employees.  In 1984 Ralph designed and built a new workshop with everything “just so” for piano rebuilding, with a high ceiling with overhead rail for hoisting plates, solar and infrared heating, extreme insulation levels, and convenient loading dock.

Along with his full-time piano work, Ralph Thorn has been involved in many musical and community pursuits, including 19 years as a Sea Scout leader and serving on the boards of Royal Canadian College of Organists, Strathroy District Arts Council, Jeunesses Musicales of Canada and Jeunesses Musicales of Ontario, as well as on committees for the Strathroy Hometown TurkeyFest and the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc Progress Through Partnership.  He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Medal of Distinction from the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc for his contributions to the arts.

Ralph Thorn and his wife Frances met in the Strathroy Chorale, Strathroy’s community choir, where he was their accompanist from 1969 to 1987, and their Music Director from 1996 to 2025.

Always interested in things historical, Ralph Thorn has developed a rapport with early instruments, often working on pianos of the early and mid-19^th century.  Many other technicians refer work on projects of this time period to Ralph because special tools, materials and skills are required in this work, including patience and perseverance for which he is particularly known.

Ralph is particularly pleased to have assisted the careers of three people who apprenticed with him and whom are now full-time piano technicians, just as he was so generously helped by established technicians.  Ralph is a regular contributor to piano technician discussion groups.

Ralph’s piano collection varies over time, at this time including:

• 1828  Nunns & Nunns square, NYC
• 1855 Erard grand, London UK
• 1858 Chickering square, Boston USA
• 1873 Broadwood grand, London UK
• 1880 Mason & Risch square, Toronto CA
• 1885 Ronisch upright, Dresden DE
• 1924 Martin-Orme/Julius Bauer grand, Ottawa CA and Chicago USA
• 1931 Mathusek “spinet” square, NYC USA
• 1968 Yamaha upright, Hamamatsu JP
• 1989 Fandrich upright, Olympia WA, USA

above:  the Ian’s Cartage team moving a Steinway model D concert grand out to the rear loading dock for delivery to the owner after the long process of a full rebuilding, featuring new soundboard and pinblock from Bolduc piano parts in Quebec.

background photo: interior of an English bi-chord piano built in 1853, rebuilt and refinished by Ralph Thorn using age-appropriate materials and techniques