TESTIMONIALS

Dr. Steven Harlos And His New Fazioli At UNT

 

 

The relationship between pianist and piano is a highly personal, subjective one. In ideal circumstances, it’s a love affair that deepens over time. With my new Fazioli, it truly was love at first sight, or should I say, touch. Over the last few months, my relationship with this fabulous instrument has only deepened. It is definitely a two-way relationship. The Fazioli is teaching me new ways of creating music at the piano. It does exactly what you ask it, nothing more, nothing less, which requires a more precise kind of playing and thinking. It’s almost like starting over, even with pieces that I have played for most of my life. The sound is beautiful, clear, and warm. I feel like I have only begun to realize its full capabilities, and I look forward to a long, happy relationship with this amazing instrument. I consider it to be one of the finest pianos I have played anywhere, and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to spend time with it regularly, both as a player and as a listener.

Dr. Steven Harlos, chair
Division of Keyboard Studies
University of North Texas

 

Carol Leone Chooses Fazioli

 

I couldn’t be happier with the Fazioli 278 piano that my husband and I purchased from Collora Piano.  The piano is remarkable for its rich colors and a touch that allows a surprising amount of control over texture and volume.  Most astonishing, for the first 9 months it has stayed in tune, even through the winter months!  The service we received from Phil Gibbs and Peter Collora was exemplary.  Peter perfectly adjusted the touch weight to my personal satisfaction.  We feel very fortunate to have this beautiful instrument!

 

Carol Leone, D.M.A.

Chair, Department of Keyboard Studies

Associate Professor of Piano

SMU Meadows School Of The Arts

Trinity Christian Academy Selects Schimmel

Trinity Christian Academy has taken delivery of a new Schimmel 9′ concert grand piano for use in its 900 seat auditorium.

Pictured with the piano is Headmaster, Dave Delph who had this to say about the new piano.

“Our auditorium’s performance piano was in poor shape, so we reached out to Phil at Collora to see what our options were.  Phil really helped us in making the decision to purchase the Schimmel 9 foot grand we now have.  We could not be more pleased.  Phil’s help along the way was invaluable and the “added extras” were an unexpected gift.  I would certainly recommend Collora if you are looking for a piano.  The customer service, attention to detail, and care throughout the process are to be highly commended.”

Music Educator Terry Metzger Chooses Schimmel

As a pianist, teacher and vocal coach a piano is an investment of the utmost importance and value is far more important than cost. Every price point offers instruments ranging from gems to junk relatively speaking, so when I wanted to upgrade my home studio instrument I returned to Collora Piano to make sure I found a gem.

To me a brand name means little — brands are bought and sold and the quality of instruments can fluctuate greatly over the years. And I don’t care which famous pianists play this or that manufacturers’ instruments. I’d rather have a piano endorsed by Peter Collora, one of the finest piano technicians anywhere, and someone whose ears and opinions I’ve come to trust without reservation over many years. I want a piano that sounds great, plays consistently with a fine action, and will withstand several hours of playing every day for decades and still be a high quality instrument I can pass on to my grandchildren.

I didn’t know a lot about Schimmel when I began shopping but my new C213 is everything I wanted and more. I have a better piano than I thought I could get for the money and I can’t wait to practice. My students from beginner to advanced can hear and feel the difference and it has been a priceless teaching moment for each of them. This is a piano that will get the best out of me and my students!

Terry Metzger

Alcuin School Chooses Schimmel

When working in a non-profit environment, it ‘takes a village’ to be able to obtain top-quality products like the new Schimmel grand that we’ve recently been able to purchase from Collora Piano for our music program, thanks to the generosity of our community. Working with Phil and Peter to maximize our efforts on this project was a wonderful experience. They very kindly loaned a piano for us to use on our very popular “Grandparents’ Day” so that we could ask for support from our visitors as our students played the instrument. This enabled us to find a donor who would match gifts made on that day, and with the participation of our Parents’ Club, we hit our goal! The music teachers here do an extraordinary job and have been wanting a quality instrument for years that would best showcase the talent in our kids. Phil worked with us on every step and, with his help, we were able to have the new grand in time for our Winter Concert where it made a tremendously successful musical evening. The addition of the Schimmel is going to have a great impact on the musical development of the students at Alcuin School. Many adults remember the tonal character, the touch, and the sound of a particular piano they played during their childhood. A sound memory that ‘touched’ them, a defining aesthetic moment that determined the excellence they seek, an ideal of sound quality. Phil and Peter were able to gently assist us throughout the process of finding our ideal of sound quality in a grand piano. They never pushed or rushed us. On the contrary, they respected our timing. As a result, we were able to find what we were looking for: a grand Schimmel. Beautiful in and out, our piano has the warm, full-bodied sound that will inspire new memories of sound and touch in many children for years to come. The customer service is outstanding and the understanding of what we were trying to do was so very helpful. The Schimmel is a beautiful instrument that will serve us for years to come.

Alcuin School

McDonald Studios Choose Collora Piano For Recitals

McDonald Piano Studios recently had the privilege of having our December Recital in the wonderful recital hall of Collora Piano. What a fabulous venue in the heart of the Dallas Design District! The hall was impeccable with wonderful acoustics and plenty of room, not withstanding the fabulous Bosendorfer Concert Grand that was provided for our students. All students and parents alike were thrilled to hear the amazing array of color each student was able to produce on this state of the art instrument. Phil and Steve couldn’t have been more gracious or welcoming. What a treasure for the Dallas Area to have such knowledgeable sales associates, wonderful collection of fine instruments, and beautiful venue. Thank you Collora Piano for graciously hosting our event!

Ms. Marcy McDonald, Dr. Alex McDonald - McDonald Piano Studios

Bennett Family Chooses Schimmel K175

Dear Phil, Thank you for selling us what we are sure will be our daughter’s piano for life, the Schimmel K175. Before discovering the Schimmel, we thought we would buy a Steinway because that is what Maranda’s teachers play. However, after playing many Steinways and numerous other brands, she fell in love with the Schimmel. We love that the piano is only 5’9” but has the action of a 9′ concert grand, and that its tone is so rich and beautiful. Since its delivery a few weeks ago, Maranda has been playing it more than eight hours a day, every day. We can already hear improvement in her playing! Her teacher from the University of Arkansas played the piano and loved it’s action, tone, quickness, and responsiveness. Before finding Collora, we searched for a piano in our home state, Arkansas, as well as in Missouri and Oklahoma. We also visited several piano stores in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Your showroom is a piano lover’s dream! There is no comparison between your beautiful, clean, and well stocked (with high quality pianos) showroom and the others we visited. We loved that we were not pressured and that Maranda was allowed to wander through the pianos and to play any of them. She was like a kid in a candy store! We love that all of your pianos were in tune and in excellent condition. All of our questions were answered promptly and completely. You made the process of purchasing and receiving delivery of the piano easy for us. It was also so nice of you to come up to our home to oversee the delivery. We have no regrets and will wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone looking to buy a piano. Thanks again

Mike and Lori Bennett, Bentonville, Arkansas

Gary & Emily Wood’s New Mason Hamlin AA

I recently purchased a new Mason & Hamlin model AA from Collora piano.  I first visited their store 4 – 5 years ago and was impressed with the sales and technical staff/owners as well as the selection of higher end pianos.  Very professional and courteous and no high pressure sales technique.  I knew if and when I did purchase a piano in the future, Collora would be at the top of my shopping list.

Fast forward 5 years to the present and was finally ready to make the purchase.  By the way, I dealt with the same folks that were at the store 5 years previous – nice to see consistency and dedication of the employees (and owners).  I did visit the other stores in the area and although there were some very nice pianos, the selection at Collora was much better (new and used).  Again, the atmosphere was relaxed with no pressure to “buy today”.

After some negotiation, we came to an agreeable price for my old piano trade in and the purchase price of the new piano.   The whole process went smoothly and no surprises.    An extra nice touch was that the salesman (Phil), came to my house when the piano was delivered to over-see the delivery and do any final cleanup and polishing of the piano. The delivery guys were also very professional and friendly.

As for the piano, I cannot say enough about how much I have enjoyed it over the past month since delivery.  The sound and touch is incredible and the piano is beautiful.  Just the right size for the room.  Definitely the piano that will last me a lifetime.

Thanks,

Gary & Emily Wood

Carolyn Gurley Chooses Bosendorfer 225

I would recommend Collora Piano without reservation! They have a wide selection of pianos and a no-pressure staff. I was a Steinway owner for 20 years. My piano was 72 years old and it needed to be re-built, which would take at least 6 months. So I decided to consider a new piano. After playing dozens of pianos, including two Steinway Model B’s, Schimmel, Estonia and Mason & Hamlin, I chose a Bosendorfer 225. The Bosendorfer is a wonderful instrument! I always liked the stiff action of my Steinway, but I feel like the action of the Bosendorfer is much more responsive. And the sound is magnificent!! Compared to Steinway it has a much warmer, richer tone. The Bosendorfer has a depth of sound that is distinctly different from the Steinway and I enjoy it every time I hear it. If you are considering investing in a piano, then you owe it to yourself to visit Collora Piano.

Carolyn Gurley Chooses A Bosendorfer 225

DSO Letter To Collora Piano

Dear Phil: The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has just returned from its European Tour, and I am writing to share with you the excitement, the enthusiasm, and the success that accompanied us in every city where we performed. Sold out concerts in Eindhoven and Amsterdam and full or nearly full houses everywhere else, standing ovations and multiple curtain calls, and outpouring of praise in the press confirmed the reputation of the DSO as one of the finest ensembles anywhere that the orchestra already had here at home. It was also very rewarding for the DSO musicians to receive this kind of recognition from the most discerning audiences in Europe. Everyone who went on the tour felt an immense sense of pride to be able to represent Dallas on the global stage so well, to show audiences outside of Dallas the talent and the skill that exists in our great city. This historic tour was made even more special for DSO patrons when they were treated to an amazing experience of visiting Boesendorfer Klavierfabrik and seeing a process of creating some of the most incredible products of artistic, engineering, and musical genius combined. Later, the group admired the beautiful Boesendorfer-Saal in Mozarthaus Vienna, and the highlight of that visit came when one of the donors sat at the gorgeous Boesendorfer Model 200 and gave an impromptu mini-recital to the rest of the group. These unique experiences would be simply impossible without your help. You played an instrumental role in transforming this tour into an unforgettable adventure for our donors. Thank you very much for all you have done to orchestrate these events so well. We appreciated working with you and Boesendorfer on the DSO European Tour, and we look forward to our continued partnership with Boesendorfer/ Collora Piano here in Dallas. We put together for you a selection of reviews in the European press and from Dallas’ own Scott Cantrell of The Dallas Morning News that we hope will provide for you a vivid picture of the DSO European Tour. Thank you again for your continued support of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Sincerely, Jonathan Martin President and CEO Dallas Symphony Orchestra

In March, 2013, it was my privilege to perform on many prestigious pianos encased in the most beautiful work of art frames and first class finishes at Collora Piano Company. Their pianos range from many professional grand pianos to starter grand pianos for beginners. The Collora Piano Company is home for the famous “Bosendorfer Piano”! Our sales experience, requirements to stay within a specified budget and the time to perform on many different pianos was a most valuable experience. With the help and advice of Steve Tunnell, Don Parrish and I were able to chose a wonderful new grand piano for the First United Methodist Church of Clifton, Texas. Don Parrish is the Music Minister for FUMC and I am currently on the church staff as their church pianist. Since the early 1970s, I have known and worked with Steve Tunnell on many music events plus the purchase of two pianos.He is extremely informative, honest and makes sure that your specific needs are addressed when purchasing a grand piano. Please take a moment to peruse the first class selection of grand pianos at the Collora Piano Company and to personally introduce yourself to Steve Tunnell.

Penny Pangburn-Hanlon

3rd Church of Christ Scientists Select Bösendorfer

The Bösendorfer – Our New Piano

I had heard of Baldwin and Steinway pianos before, but never Bösendorfer – until now.

Third Church of Christ, Scientist now has the only concert-sized Bösendorfer piano in the city of Dallas! It was recently “unwrapped” at a hymn sing for our congregation to celebrate.

So what makes the Bösendorfer so special? Founded in 1828, Bösendorfer ranks among the oldest piano makers in the world. The Austrian piano manufacturer employs artisans and craftsmen who skillfully assemble each piano by hand.

The result is that every piano features excellent “action” (the response of the instrument to the player’s touch), and a wonderful “singing tone.” Because these pianos are not mass-produced, they are of the highest quality and longevity.

Our organist, Scott Ayers, is thrilled to be able to play such a wonderful instrument. Come to Third Church and check it out!

Brenda

Music Educator Angela Nuefeld Chooses Bosendorfer

As a pianist and a piano instructor, I dreamed of owning a beautiful new Steinway Model B. During my undergraduate and graduate studies in performance, I played most if not all of my recitals on Steinway pianos and longed to own one myself one day. Last September, my husband and I decided to invest in a new piano for our home – to use for my own practicing and for my teaching. Also, my two sons ages 6 and 9 had both become more serious about their music studies and we felt that we wanted both of them to grow up practicing on a “quality” instrument – the very best we could afford. Eagerly, I visited Steinway Hall playing all of their Model B’s but was disappointed. They were all so different – some more muted without any projection and some seemed almost harsh and far too bright. I had heard about the wonderful Bosendorfer piano but had never played one. I decided that if I was going to spend a great deal of money on a piano, I should at least play a Bosendorfer before I committed myself to a Steinway that would require a lot of work by a technician to get the sound just where I needed it to be. I set up an impromptu appointment at Collora Pianos in Dallas and was greeted by Phil Gibbs who invited me to play all of the Bosendorfer models in their showroom. I sat down at one of the pianos and began to play and almost immediately, tears came to my eyes. The sound of the piano was how I had always imagined a beautiful piano should sound. It was rich and warm and the tones were even, clear and almost “bell-like.” The piano’s treble voice sang out and almost did a lot of the work for you while the bass was deep and strong but never muffled or muted. After playing all of the Bosendorfer models in the showroom, I was astounded at how similar they all were! They all had a very consistent “Bosendorfer” sound – so unlike the Steinway pianos I had played earlier. I mentioned to Phil that I was also considering a Steinway B and he was courteous and professional saying that he completely understood and that if I would like, I could have a piano delivered to my home on a trial basis and If I wasn’t happy with it, they would be willing to take it back with no questions asked. I decided that day to buy a Seven Foot CS Series Bosendorfer and have fallen in love with the piano as it has acclimated itself in my home. My students love it, I have been inspired to practice more, and my children feel blessed to have an instrument of the highest quality to practice on. My nine year old son, who is also a cellist, claims it’s like having the entire Vienna Philharmonic at your fingertips! He is practicing the piano more than two hours every day and recently won Second Place in the Dallas Solo Competition and First Place in the Dallas Symphonic Festival at SMU. He doesn’t get to perform on a Bosendorfer at these events, but he always carries the sound of his beautiful home piano in his ears and that is the sound he tries to re-create when he performs on other pianos. Last week, my graduate school piano professor came to visit me for a couple of days and she spent hours on my new piano playing the music of Debussy, Ravel, Bach and Beethoven. She exclaimed over and over again about what a wonderful choice I had made and she can’t wait to come again to visit my beautiful Bosendorfer!

Angela Nuefeld