At the heart of NBSS are a diverse and dedicated team of staff, faculty, and strategic advisors. Together they provide a supportive environment for students to learn at the highest level, and they engage with a broad-based community of alumni and friends. In addition to the Staff and Faculty below, our community also includes dedicated Boards of Directors and Advisors.
Will studied piano technology for two years in an apprenticeship before completing the Basic Piano Technology program in 2019, and is an Instructor in the Basic Piano Technology program. He has worked with the Sing For Hope foundation—a music outreach organization in New York City—since 2016, as both an intern and supervisor. After graduating, he worked as a field technician doing in-home service with Onigman Piano Craft in New Jersey, and is now the owner of Roper Piano Service here in Boston. He is also the Northeast Regional Vice President of the Piano Technicians Guild and a PTG board member.
Three-Month Furniture Making Intensive Instructor
Kolin Schmidt
Kolin is a furniture maker, teacher, and graduate of the Cabinet & Furniture Making program. He is an instructor in the Three-Month Furniture Making Intensive as well as several weekend Community Education classes. Before attending NBSS, Kolin received an architecture degree and practiced as a draftsperson and designer for both residential and commercial properties in rural Iowa. Kolin shares a furniture studio with two other North Bennet graduates in New Hampshire.
Peter is the Carpentry Department Head and a graduate of our Preservation Carpentry program. He most recently worked for custom building and design firm David E. Lanoue, Inc, and previously supervised NBSS interns at Mt. Lebanon Shaker Village. Peter is also a former NBSS Continuing Education instructor, with additional experience as a camp counselor and a public school teacher.
Emily is a 2007 graduate of the NBSS Basic Piano Technology program, a 2008 graduate of the Advanced program, and a Registered Piano Technician. She also holds a degree in piano performance from Trinity University. Emily has served as head technician at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and as a concert technician at both Aspen Music Festival and School and Tanglewood. She now runs her own tuning and rebuilding business. Emily serves the Piano Technicians Guild as an active tuning, technical, and written examiner, and as a sought-after instructor at national and regional conferences. In 2021 she received the PTG’s Crowl-Travis Member of Note Award for outstanding service to the Guild and industry. She has received manufacturer training from Steinway and Sons and Renner.
Matt is an NBSS graduate and long-time NBSS Continuing Education instructor. He joined the full-time program faculty in 2017. Matt has also served as an instructor at The Windsor Institute and Penland School of Craft. He’s a long-time member of the Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers and a contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine‘s video series. Matt founded River City Woodworking in 2001, which produces high-end furnishings and millwork for residential and commercial clients.
