“From buying and selling fine new and used pianos to restoring the vintage instruments, we take great pride in the work we do at The Piano Store of Sonoma County.”
-Michael McQuilkin

For more than 30 years, Michael and Catherine McQuilkin have been sharing their knowledge and expertise with seasoned and budding musicians. Now, as co-owners of The Piano Store of Sonoma, they educate people on what to look for when they’re purchasing a new or previously owned piano. Michael also is an expert at restoring fine pianos.

Working together at The Piano Store of Sonoma they bring a strong commitment to serving the community. To that end, they have started the “We Support Your Schools” program, through which they will donate 1% of the purchase price of any piano to the school of your choice. Michael also supports the community by performing at local fundraisers.

Michael McQuilkin – Musician and Master Technician

“They don’t make pianos like they used to,” says Michael McQuilkin. And he should know. After all, he’s spent the better part of his career as a piano technician. A musician in his own right, Michael apprenticed with a tuner/restorer in New York. Then, in 1977 his love of the instrument led him to California to study piano restoration with Leonard Jared. “Under his tutelage, I learned many secrets of the trade which only a master can teach,” says Michael. Secrets like scaling the wire sizes to produce optimum tone, and which type of hammers to use on different types of pianos.

Michael started in retail piano sales in 1990 and has a thorough knowledge of the market for both new and previously owned pianos. In 1996, he and his wife Catherine started their own business in Marin County, buying and selling old instruments. Then, in the summer of 2007, the couple realized their dream of owning a full-service piano store when they opened The Piano Store of Sonoma County, in Rohnert Park.

Michael & Catherine McQuilkin

Catherine, the other half of this piano duet, was born and raised in Marin County, California. While the piano business is a new adventure for her, she brings a long record of accomplishments in both the professional and community-based levels. Catherine served as program director of a local non-profit for six years and has spent the last five years volunteering in her children’s schools and for various local organizations. At The Piano Store, she brings together her love of music, business skills and dedication to community involvement.