Jack Stebbins retires

At a reception honoring his 29 years as an NBSS instructor, students, faculty peers and staff celebrated Jack Stebbins with memories and praise. Never shy, Jack beamed in the limelight, told a joke and sang a song. The inscription on the gift from the school (an antique book of jokes) noted “more than 300 students taught, 1000 tuning exams given, thousands of jokes told and millions of laughs gifted.”

It was recently announced that Mario Igrec will join the piano technology program in September and assume Jack’s positon. Mario has been rebuilding pianos since 1987. He worked at Louisiana State University for 8 years as a piano technician and eventually began teaching at the school. He also authored and published the book “Pianos Inside Out: A Comprehensive Guide to Piano Tuning, Repairing, and Rebuilding”. Mario is pictured here with piano technology instructor Emily Townsend and Jack.