People
John Slavick
John joined Classic Pianos from Houston, Texas where he was shop manager for Forshey Music. He apprenticed with concert piano tuner Dean Shank at Rice University, and earned master technician status with Steinway & Sons ― including sessions with Steinway’s guru, Franz Mohr, past tuner / technician to the world’s greatest pianists. John has tuned for the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Rice University, and Texas A & M. Experienced in classic piano restoration, John works closely with clients seeking one-of-a-kind vintage Steinway & Sons instruments that are part of the Classic Collection at Classic Pianos. John has become a premier concert tuner in the Pacific Northwest, and has garnered praise from America’s leading concert pianists ― classical and jazz artists on tour, playing Yamaha and Bösendorfer concert grands. His depth of technical experience makes John a favorite “go-to guy” (for both beginning and advanced pianists) seeking professional advice. His low-key, Texan style is reassuring and puts piano customers at ease upon first impression.
Fred Riley
Fred grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia with a love for music. He joined the Colonial Fife & Drum Corps. at age seven. As a teenager, while watching his guitar teacher tune the family piano, Fred became intrigued with learning the art of tuning pianos. He tuned pianos through college and, in 1990, earned a Piano Technician / Business degree from Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, Virginia. In the early 1990s, the local Yamaha dealer, Parker Piano Co., persuaded Fred to try sales. After his first weekend in retail sales, Fred was convinced that selling pianos was his passion and vocation. In 1995, he moved to the West Coast to accept a Piano Marketing & Networking position. Networking with Piano Technicians, Educators, & Designers has been his "forte". Fred has a genuine interest in helping people find the perfect instrument for their needs. His experience with Yamaha during the past 24 years ― including hosting music educator workshops; seminars; university fund raising events; receptions at art galleries; community service / organizing donations of pianos to charitable trusts and needy organizations; and by hosting “hundreds of piano concerts and recitals for the Yamaha / Steinway dealer, Green Music in San Diego,” Fred is the ideal match for Classic Pianos of Washington.
Kathy Walke
Kathy began working in the piano business in 1981 as the Controller for Greene Music Company of San Diego, California. For 27 years, Kathy has been the dealer liaison for world renowned artists and arts organizations with Yamaha Artists Services. She has four years of experience in piano sales, both local and national, with Yamaha and Steinway & Sons. January 1, 2008, Kathy assumed responsibilities for Concert and Event Services for Classic Pianos of Portland — managing Classic’s extensive concert rental fleet of full-concert, semi-concert, and baby grand pianos for artists and events.
James Walls
Jim majored in Liberal Arts at the University of Oregon and studied piano with Dr. John Hamilton, a prodigy of keyboard icon Wanda Landowska. Jim has played piano since age five and has been featured on BBC Radio. His teachers have been Alma Proctor, Pasadena; jazz great Mary Field of Portland; Jim Rousey, San Francisco, a former student of Jerome (Jerry) Gray in Seattle; and classical studies with Katherine George, past Principal pianist with the Oregon Symphony. Jim has been in the music industry since college, having his first “big job” at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair as a representative for the Lowrey Corporation. After several years of experience in piano and organ retail sales, Jim was named Western Regional Manager for Rodgers Organ Company in 1967. In 1974, as head of marketing, Jim was a key executive in negotiating the five-manual Rodgers organ for Carnegie Hall, and was an early promoter of the legendary Rodgers Touring and Artist Program with Virgil Fox. For 15 years Jim was Vice-president of Marketing for Steinway Musical Properties, Inc., Boston. Now “semi-retired,” Jim serves as Director of Marketing for Classic Pianos. Additionally, he teaches piano and plays corporate and private events.
Christopher Ranney
Chris is a recording studio specialist. He studied music theory at the University of Michigan and creative composition from concert pianist / recording artist William Bolcom. While living in New York City, Chris trained in audio engineering under David Ruffo and assisted on many live remote jazz recordings at famous Manhattan venues including: Birdland, The Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Jazz Standard, and Symphony Space. Prior to joining Classic Pianos, after moving to the Pacific Northwest from Berkeley, California, Chris worked with Maurice Unis's Forte Marketing Group ― a national sales and marketing organization that organizes university, institutional, and special fund-raising events coast-to-coast. Currently, Chris maintains the Website for Classic Pianos of Washington and has extensive sales and technical experience in both acoustic and digital Yamaha pianos, including Disklavier and Yamaha’s latest “hybrid” AvantGrand. Owning a small music production studio, Chris is well-versed in the art of audio and MIDI recording—interfacing computers with acoustic, digital, and hybrid pianos.
Brian Unis
Brian, eldest of the Unis sons, literally grew up in the piano industry. Spending nearly every free moment with his father, Maurice Unis, at the original Moe’s Pianos, Brian discovered his shared family passion for pianos at an early age. After graduating from Sandy High School, Brian attended Mt. Hood Community College. His love of pianos compelled him to partner with his father to establish Classic Pianos. Brian was mentored as an apprentice in all aspects of the business — including moving, accounting, piano restoration, sales, and management. He enjoys learning to play the piano, and has been taking lessons as a lifelong hobby. Brian is married with three children.
Cathy Traylor
Cathy minored in music at Miami of Ohio and later played piano for Civic Theater and Storefront Theater productions in Portland. She started working with Maurice Unis at the old Moe’s Pianos, in charge of event rentals and master classes. In 1995, she left Sherman Clay to work with Unis again at Forte Marketing Group, where she continues to organize event sales nationwide. At Classic Pianos of Portland, Cathy is responsible for public relations, advertising and marketing activities — including program advertising for the Oregon Symphony Orchestra; Oregon Ballet Theatre; Portland Center for the Performing Arts; The Old Church Concert Series; and newspaper advertising for sales and university events.