Hall Piano Staff

Steven O. Kinchen

President/Co-Owner
Steve@hallpiano.com
Hall Piano Company Family Member Since 1990

Steinway Factory Training:
Retail Sales Professional Bachelor
Retail Sales Professional Masters
Retail Management Bachelors
Degrees Held:
W.S.U. Bachelors
W.S.U. Masters

Steve joined Hall Piano Company in 1990 with the goal of developing the electronic musical instrument department.  Building on his experience with world-renown composer and electronic music pioneer Dr. Stephen Dankner.  Steve successfully  formed strategic alliances with the top electronic musical instrument manufacturer in the world, Kurzweil Music Systems.  Having been recognized by Kurzweil Music Systems as a top ten dealer numerous times, Steve has also been the recipient of countless sales and service awards throughout his career.

“I began my career in the Music industry as many of my colleagues, simply working my way through college.  Little did I know then that a great love affair for this industry would develop and take such firm hold of me that I now can not envision myself doing anything else in the world.”

Steve’s success in the keyboard industry was mirrored in the piano industry as well in the late 1990’s through today.  Steve’s leadership resulted in Hall Piano Company being recognized in 2003 as a Top Ten Dealer for the world’s largest piano manufacturer, Young Chang and in 2007, being awarded the highly coveted Steinway & Sons Partners in Performance Award.  

“The true measure of our success as I see it is our partnership with the worlds’ most respected piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons.  The commitment that John Wright and I have made not only to our staff and business, but also to service in our community, led us in the natural direction of being singled out in the state of Louisiana as the premier piano dealer.  This distinction was consummated on September 14th, 2004 as our Steinway dealership appointment was finalized.”

Steve is a graduate of New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, attended Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York on full scholarship as one of four George Eastman Scholars for his entering class and has studied with many great artists such as Dr. Stephen Dankner, James VanDemark, Ellis Marsallis, Harold Batiste, Stephen Weiss, Delfayo Marsallis, Emily O’Bannon, and Dr. Bert Braud.  Steve’s numerous awards include the prestigious Rene Louapre Award for outstanding musicianship.

With all of the responsibilities of a business owner, Steve also still finds time to be active in his local church body where he has served as music director since 1997.  His versatility as a musician means that you are just as likely to see him playing piano as bass or guitar.

“As a native New Orleanian, I can say that I have never been more excited about the possibilities for the future of New Orleans and the surrounding areas.  We are proud to be an integral part of the rebirth of our great American city.”

Married since 1995 to his wife Gina, Steve is a devoted husband and father of two sons, both of which show an active interest in Hall Piano Company and the piano business.

 

John D. Wright, Jr

Service/ Restoration/Customer Fulfillment Director
Johnny@hallpiano.com
Hall Piano Company Family Member Since 1959

Steinway Factory Training:
Factory Orientation
Retail Sales Professional
Reatil Sales Bachelors
Retail Management Bachelors
Degrees Held:
W.S.U. Bachelors

Growing up in a family business can sometimes be a challenge, however, John Jr. has always had a passion for the business that his father co-founded in 1958.  John Jr. has spent most of his life pursuing excellence in learning every aspect of the piano business.  Through his career he has served in every capacity associated with running a successful piano sales and service organization, from delivery manager, to refinisher,  to piano rebuilder. 

John’s factory training is extensive and includes training at Steinway’s factory in New York, the PianoDisc factory in Sacramento California, and the QRS factory in Seneca PA.

Dwight Clements

Product Specialist
Sales and Service
Dwight@hallpiano.com
Hall Piano Company Family Member Since 2003

Steinway Factory Training:
Factory Orientation
Retail Sales Professional

Dwight joined the Hall Piano Company team in 2003 bringing with him over 25 years of experience in the retail music business.  His extensive product knowledge and unique ability to assist his clients in selecting exactly the right piano makes Mr. Clements a very valuable resource for first time piano shoppers.

With over 38 years experience as director of music for local churches, Dwight talents can be enjoyed weekly at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Kenner Louisiana.  Dwight has also been playing with bands since his early teens. He has performed with show bands for the last fourteen years, including Duel Exhaust. Dwight has also done studio work and has played for several charity organizations in the New Orleans area. He also does a great job of singing lead and back-up vocals. 

Most Recently, Dwight was cast in a leading role opposite of up and coming child-star Lindsey Lohan in a local film entitled “Just My Luck” released by 20th Century Fox.

Dwight is also an avid collector of DVDs and movies and has a home collection rivaling that of a large Blockbuster.

Brett Guillory

Digital Piano/Keyboard Dept. Manager
Office Manager (A/P, A/R)
brett@hallpiano.com
Hall Piano Company Family Member  Since 2002

Steinway Factory Training:
Factory Orientation
Retail Sales Professional

Brett joined Hall Piano Company in May 2002 as manager of sales and service of the Kurzweil keyboard department. Before joining Hall Piano Company, Brett was already an owner and fan of Kurzweil instruments. His technical and operational expertise with the K2000, K2500, and K2600 series of instruments made him a perfect fit to take over the role previously occupied by Steve Kinchen.

In November of 2004, Mr. Guillory also took on the duties of office manager at Hall Piano Company, putting to use his extensive computer skills and keeping day-to-day accounts payable and accounts receivable operations running smoothly. Other roles Brett plays as needed are Hall Piano Company website designer, as well as graphics designer.

Brett began playing in bands in 2000 when he was asked to join the start-up group Fire and Ice. This led to the purchase of his first synthesizer, a Kurzweil K2000S. Brett currently plays with Abigail's Ghost, a progressive rock/metal band hailing from Thibodaux, LA who recently finished the recording of their first studio album and hopes to release it before the end of 2006.

Brett is also a martial arts enthusiast and currently trains in Genbukan ninpo taijutsu. You can find him most Sundays swinging swords and sticks at the park in Baton Rouge with his small group of dedicated fellow students and their teacher.

Chad Clements

Institutional Sales & Service Director
Chad@hallpiano.com
Hall Piano Company Family Member Since 2006

Steinway Factory Training:
Factory Orientation
Retail Sales Professional
Institutional Manager

Chad has been a New Orleans native all his life and began playing music in high school.  He attended Archbishop Shaw High where he participated in marching and symphonic bands while receiving numerous local, state, and national music honors.  He went on to study music at the University of New Orleans with the Jazz department and later at Visible School of Worship Arts in Memphis, Tennessee.  Some of his most prominent stylistic influences include Jimmy Chamberlin, John Bonham, Jojo Mayer, and Buddy Rich.

Chad is also very active in local churches.  He regularly attends Abundant Life Church, is a part of the music ministry team there, and works closely with the youth in the New Orleans metro area to induce change and breathe life into our city.  In his spare time, Chad enjoys spending time with family and friends, making music, reading, and playing airsoft: a military simulation game similar to paintball.

“This is my first venture into the piano industry.  I’m very excited to fulfill the role of Institutional Director here at Hall Piano Company.  Visiting the Steinway & Sons factory in New York was an unforgettable experience for me, and I’m honored to represent the world’s finest piano at Louisiana's’ only Steinway appointed dealer.  It is my hope that I can serve to build relationships in the ongoing process of continuing the growth of New Orleans.”

Wayne Land

Product Specialist
Sales
wayne@hallpiano.com
Hall Piano Company Family Member Since 2004

Wayne joined the Hall Piano Company team in 2004 after relocating  from South Florida where he had worked in the retail piano business  for 14 years.  Wayne is also a former secondary school instrumental  music instructor of 18 years as well as a former church minister of  music and choir director.  His high school bands received numerous  Superior ratings and received honors such as performing for  professional football bowl games and the invitation to represent his  state at the dedication of the United Nations Office building in  Vienna.  In 1974 he was selected Star Teacher for his school and  district and was runner up for the entire State of Georgia.

 As a professional saxophonist Wayne has performed in pit orchestras  and on stages in Georgia, Alabama and Florida with venues such as the  Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, the Holiday On Ice show  and the touring Hello Dolly Broadway musical.  His experience  includes over 16 years representing the Steinway piano and during  that time he has sold virtually every brand of piano currently on the  market.  He has obtained factory training during trips to the 

Steinway factory in New York and to factories in Japan.

Wayne holds the Associate of Arts Degree in Music from Gulf Coast  Community College in Panama City, Florida and the Bachelor of Music  Education Degree from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama.  His  graduate studies include Troy State University and Barry University  in South Florida.  His wide ranged musical experience enables his  keen awareness of the needs of professional musicians, churches,  schools and home owners.  He enjoys incorporating his teaching skills  to make understanding the features and benefits of various pianos  much easier than the customer might expect through an exceptional  ability to provide the specific expertise most helpful to the first time piano buyer, the seasoned professional or the young child who is  just beginning his/her piano study.

Anna Strander

Client Relations
Hall Piano Company Family Member Since 2002

Anna is a visionary artist native to New Orleans who has pursued her career as an artist by developing many talents in fabric, glass, and tile creations. She uses a unique technique in incorporating these different textures into contemporary pieces of eclectic artwork.

Her work encompasses a sense of depth and dimension.  The different colored and textured fabrics that Anna uses are a pallet to creating a most impressionable piece of work.

Anna’s unique talent gives her art a symmetry that sets her apart from other artists, and captures the spirit of modern renaissance.

 

 
Service And Technical Staff
Teachers