Debbie Cyr PA ’93 Retires After 30+ Years at NBSS

After more than three decades of service, instruction, and leadership at NBSS, Debbie Cyr PA ’93, RPT is retiring from her role in the School’s Piano Technology program.

A Registered Piano Technician and lifelong educator, Debbie’s path to NBSS was unconventional but intentional. Originally a private piano teacher in rural northern Maine, she became intrigued by the inner workings of the instrument. Over time, she taught herself repair techniques and continued building her skills. 

Eventually Debbie discovered NBSS in the pages of a piano teacher magazine and realized the School would help her reach the next level in her career.

“I knew that this was it,” she recalled of stepping into the old NBSS building in 1992. “It felt like home.”

After graduating from the Advanced Piano Technology program, Debbie joined the faculty in 1995 and served as both an instructor and mentor through to the present. She became Department Head in 2018—after the retirement of her colleague and close friend David Betts PT ’72, PA ’20—and continued to ably lead both programs in that role until this spring. 

Over her career, Debbie helped guide more than 700 students in both Basic and Advanced Piano programs, while also maintaining a private clientele, serving as piano technician for Brandeis University, and actively leading within the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG). She also co-authored technical articles, presented at numerous conferences, and administered tuning and technical exams at both local and national levels.

“Debbie has stewarded our Piano Technology department with great care,” said Claire Fruitman CF ’96, Provost and Interim President. “Her skill, mentorship, and dedication to this community have left an enduring legacy.”

In her remarks at Debbie’s retirement celebration, Claire highlighted her incredible knowledge and generosity. “I bet Debbie could tell us where each of her graduates is working,” she said. “Tracking employment, supporting exams, mentoring instructors—these are just a few of the ways she’s shaped this department, while always putting students first.”

Debbie reflected on the deep impact the School and its students had on her own life. “Teaching and piano technology are tasks I’ve devoted my entire life to—something I brought everything to, every minute of the day for 30+ years,” she shared. “The students were the reason behind everything I did. They have become a thread in the fabric of my life, a fabric that I cherish immensely.”

She credits much of her growth to the people who came before her—Walter McDonald, Christine Lovgren PT ’80, PA ’81, Jack Stebbins PT ’82, PA ’83, and David Betts PT ’72, PA ’20—and to her students, whose curiosity and commitment kept her inspired.

In recent years, Debbie partnered closely with instructor Emily Townsend PT ’07, PA ’08 to refine and modernize the Basic Piano curriculum. Their collaboration, she says, was “a magical time.” What began as carpool conversations blossomed into thoughtful improvements to the curriculum. “I would chew her ear off the whole way about ideas, and she’d turn them into action.”

NBSS is proud to share that Emily has now fully stepped into the role of Department Head. She brings with her years of experience, deep knowledge of the program, and a forward-thinking approach—building on Debbie’s legacy and continuing the department’s evolution with great care and commitment.

Although stepping down from her leadership role, Debbie will remain connected to NBSS as a substitute instructor and mentor. “I’m not so much retiring,” she said, “but stepping back to watch the next generation of instructors hit it out of the park.”

If you would like to make a gift to the School in honor of Debbie, she encourages a donation to the David Betts Memorial Scholarship for Piano Technology. Make a gift online at nbss.edu/donate; from the drop-down menu, choose “Named Scholarship Fund”, and write “David Betts Scholarship” in the “Comments (optional)” field. Thank you!