About
Who Are We?
Michael Lipnicki Fine Pianos Ltd. is Calgary’s Premier Piano Store for piano sales and service!
Not only do we sell top-rated new pianos, we have a large selection of used pianos. All used pianos (consignments and trade-ins) go through our shop first for cleaning, repairs and tuning.
We also service all makes of pianos for Concert Stages, Universities and Colleges, Schools, Teaching Studios and our own valued customers. Michael is also the choice technician for work on Steinway pianos.
We offer regular piano maintenance like tuning, voicing and regulating to complete piano rebuilding and restoration.
THE LIPNICKI FAMILY
MICHAEL LIPNICKI
Registered Piano Technician R.P.T.
I suppose I was destined for a career in pianos as I grew up around pianos in various states of repair since my father and uncles were all in the piano business. Initially their training began at the Ontario School for the Blind as eye-sight problems afflicted every male of their generation.
Tuning was a skill they could hone as their hearing and other senses were already heightened. Since my eyesight was fine, I assisted them from a very early age, in literally hundreds of tunings, helping to take the piano apart and keep track of their tools needed for tuning. Once I had my driver’s license, I also got to chauffeur them around – much to my Aunts’ delight.
NICOLE LIPNICKI
Office Administration
I grew up in Calgary in a musical and artsy family, attended the University of Calgary Faculty of Management, (now the Haskayne School of Business), where I earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree. After graduation I went to work with my mom, Irene, at Irene Besse
Keyboards while I looked for my “dream job”. Ha. 11 years later I left to have my son, Matthew, and decided I’d like to be home with him as much as I could, for as long as I could. That’s when Michael and I decided to run his piano tuning business from home with me at the helm. That grew into a small shop with a tiny bit of showroom space and then a move to our current location on Centre Street after my mom retired and closed Irene Besse Keyboards.
MATTHEW LIPNICKI
Office and Shop Assistant
And so the Lipnicki tradition continues – now Matthew is our “Child Labour”! Daddy’s special “pi-nano” helper, when he was little.
Now, taller than Nicole and almost as tall as Michael, a teenager through-and-through, he’s not as excited as he once was to help out in the shop and office. Go figure.
MEET OUR TEAM
Irene Besse
Sales Representative
“Referred to as Calgary’s “First Lady of Music, Irene Besse brings over 60-years of music industry experience to our team. Starting as a piano and organ teacher to sales representative to entrepreneur to building and running her own music empire for decades, this icon just can’t leave the business, even after “retiring” a little over 10 years ago. Being able to wear ‘many hats’ helps her hone the best fit for clients looking for the instrument best suited to them.
MATTHEW CHANTLER
Sales Representative
Matthew grew up in Calgary but moved overseas after earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge. He worked as the sales manager of a boutique piano store in Sydney, Australia, where he met his wife, and started a family. He later joined Casio Music Australia as an Account Manager representing Casio digital pianos across the east coast of Australia. In the past year, Matthew moved back to Calgary with his family to be closer to home and is the newest addition to our sales team.
Matthew is a classically trained pianist with many years experience working in the music sales and education industry and looks forward to helping match our clients to the instrument that is right for them.
Lorna Schmaltz
Service Coordinator
Lorna is the friendly, helpful voice on the phone, that helps with everything from arranging to have your piano tuned, serviced, moved, shipped accross the country or overseas. Lorna also looks after our recital space bookings.
CARLO SANTOS
Sales Representative
Originally a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Calgary, Carlo obtained the Associate Diploma (ARCT) and Licentiate Diploma (LRCM) in Piano Performance with Distinction from the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2020, he was awarded the National Gold Medal for his Licentiate performance for receiving the highest mark in Canada. He currently teaches private piano and theory lessons to over 40 students.
He enjoys hiking, bouldering, or checking out a new restaurant in his spare time. His love of German and Italian pianos extends to cars as well.