Notes from the PIPPA 2025 piano conference
by Andrew Deogracias
I was fortunate to attend the PIPPA 2025 piano trade show in Las Vegas — a couple full days of seminars, performances, networking, and everything piano. Conferences like this play an important role in how we evaluate instruments, adopt industry best practices, and stay current as a DC area piano dealer.
The exhibition floor featured many of the industry’s leading manufacturers, toolmakers, and other organizations. Some of the manufacturers included elite German maker Förster, as well as our longtime favorites, Petrof and Hailun. Events like PIPPA give us the opportunity to scout new pianos, and deepen our relationships with the piano makers we represent.
A warm backdrop to match a warm tone, a characteristic of all Petrof pianos.
Beyond inspecting and playing the pianos, I had the opportunity to set up and tune a few Petrof models. This hands-on work allowed me to get to know these instruments inside and out, while further developing the expertise required to properly prep, sell, and maintain Petrof pianos for our clientele back in the DMV.
Perhaps the most exciting development at the conference was the introduction of the new Petrof Discovery line of pianos. With this release, Petrof has expanded into a more accessible introductory tier, while retaining much of the warm, colorful, clear tonal character the brand is known for. The first model released in the Discovery line is the Petrof P121, a 48-inch upright that impressed many PIPPA attendees, as well as NAMM participants just a week earlier. If you’re curious about this piano, we are actively working to bring it to DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia and make it regularly available at our Virginia workshop.
The new Petrof P121 from their new Discovery line.
I also had another opportunity to play and tune the Petrof Storm, further building anticipation as we prepare to receive our own Storm in the coming months (stay tuned!). It sounded every bit as warm, round, and lush as I remembered from my first encounter with it at the Akustika conference in Germany, and reaffirmed why it will be a special addition to our curated selection of pianos for sale in the DC area.
The Petrof Storm grand piano, all tuned up and ready for the show.
A unique aspect of PIPPA is the additional focus on piano pedagogy as an equal focus to the technical and business fields. As such, I had the opportunity to connect with pianists and piano teachers, who added additional perspective to discussions throughout the week. For example, in one pedagogical seminar, I had my assumptions about low-quality pianos challenged by the pianists’ discussion about their first pianos, some of which were old and worn. I often think about that discussion when working with a new family shopping for a piano that fits within their needs and budget.
The seminars were led by respected figures from across the pedagogical, retail, manufacturing, and technical sides of the piano industry. These included presentations from some of the largest technician-dealers in the country, such as Brigham Larsen, and Morgan Cowell of Great Plains Piano — truly the best of the best.
Morgan Cowell of Great Plains Piano hosting a workshop on Hailun piano setup.
Conferences like PIPPA help sharpen our skills, strengthen relationships, and stay at the forefront of the piano industry. Experiences like these directly inform how we serve pianists and piano owners throughout Washington, DC and the surrounding region. I’m already looking forward to the next one…