At the up-coming (February 22-25, 2012) WestPac (Western and Pacific Regional) Conference in Salt Lake City, attendees are in for a real treat: a one-day technical seminar given by Claudio Valent, chief concert technician for Fazioli.

This is only one of the Conference's close to 50 enlightening seminars which will benefit participants in many ways.

Other highlights include seminars of prepared piano and a prepared piano concert, as well as a little-publicized tour of the famous Mormon Tabernacle Organ.

For more information, check out the website:
WestPac Conference

That's quite a line-up of instructors, also:

http://www.westpac-ptg.org/2012/instructors/index.shtml

FYI;
There are two organs now located in Temple Square; the original one built in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s in the Tabernacle Building where the choir still practices today.

That building became too small for the choir so during the Olympic preparations a new conference building was built across the street and houses the new pipe organ.

Both buildings are open for public viewing.

Thanks for posting the message about Westpac, Jurgen. It is an amazing line-up of classes. Any other Pianoworld folks planning on attending? I'm looking for someone to share room expenses...

My wife has a cousin who sang with the choir (...and wrote a hymn that was adopted, too!), and we had the privilege of attending a choir rehearsal. Following the rehearsal we were allowed to take a look at the organ.

Amazing. Sitting on the bench was rather like being at the controls of a 747. The layers of keyboards and the panels of adjustments and stops was mind-boggling. The forest of pipes surrounding you at the rear of the Tablernacle is also one-of-a-kind. Wow.

Well worth a visit, if you can be there!

I'm really looking forward to Steve Brady's "Zen and the Art of Concert Prep" class. I must shamelessly claim that I gave him the title for that class and he ran with it! Steve has an appreciation for eastern philosophy and it will be great to see what he comes up with. He knows the importance of efficiency and comfort while working and how to zero in on the root of a problem.

Just received the WESTPAC mailer and there must've been a problem in the printers plates or the coalition of the pages before it went to the bindery. The pages are not numbered but the back of the second page starts in mid sentence and picks up in later pages. Oops! Anyway, I can't wait to get there! My favorite tuning hammer broke at the threaded shaft (titanium?) so I'm in the market for a new hammer experience. I have high hopes of finding a new friend to work with.

Hey David! I'm glad you will be there - it will be good to see you and catch up on life in Sin City! Jean is staying home this time, so I will be looking for a room-mate. Let me know if you want to split room expenses.

For who's interested in Fazioli: Renner set hammers for Fazioli 1.56m for sale on eBay.item no 280812462518. Greetings, Peter.

Is the WestPac II a smaller version of the regular PTG Conferance? Whats the background info on it?

WestPac is a "regular" PTG conference. PTG holds one Annual Conference , along with a number (8 or so?) smaller regional conferences with training seminars etc every year.

WeswtPac is the regional for the Western Pacific Region. All are welcome to attend, including non-PTG members.

I just got back from the WestPac conference. What a great event.

There was an all day session on "extended piano techniques" (prepared piano etc), with an evening concert. There was a behind-the-scenes tour of two large pipe organs, there were many, many interesting and new classes by excellent presenters. The all-day voicing class with Claudio Valent, Fazioli's head tech, was enlightening. It made me proud to see he uses the same adjustable voicing tool that I have as my avatar.

Hats off and thanks to everyone involved in putting on such a great show!

It was good to see Stephen Shepherd at your booth, Jurgen! I'm looking forward to reading his new book "Shellac, Linseed Oil, & Paint". I've been interested in knowing more about shellac for years, and have messed around a bit, but am looking forward to knowing more.


I just noticed that there are pictures of you on Stephen's blog: http://www.fullchisel.com/blog/?p=2535



Now you will have to start offering French Polish supplies, Jurgen!