Professional Background:
Debra was born and raised in New York City. She started playing piano when she was five years old and began teaching students at the age of fifteen. She has played in summer theater groups and was piano accompanist for the Tufts University Theater where she graduated with a BA. After attending UCLA Business School and receiving her MBA in accounting she continued to play piano as a hobby but began a twenty year business career on both coasts.
In 2002, Debra decided to leave the corporate world and moved to Boston to study Piano Technology at North Bennett Street School. She joined the Piano Technicians Guild and passed the exams to become certified as a Registered Piano Technician. She is also a Certified Tuning Examiner for the Guild. She has been to Steinway Factory training seminars, the Oberlin Institute training, Yamaha Disklavier training and annual PTG conventions and training workshops. Debra has lived in both New York City and San Diego and established a clientele on both coasts.
In 2005 Debra was hired as Piano Technician for University of California at San Diego and was responsible for concert performances, recording studio work, teaching studio and practice room pianos. She also has been a Concert Technician at the Aspen Music School and Festival and worked at the Tanglewood Institute, Jazz Aspen/Snowmass and the Suzuki Institute.
Debra has many hobbies including jazz piano, rowing, bicycling, Argentinian tango dancing and gardening. She was owner/operator of Pedal Italy Bicycling Tours and learned both Italian and her way around the Italian countryside! She is currently a licensed California CPA and Certified Financial Planner and often works part time during busy season.