Repair Staff

Gary M. McCheyne

After finishing his Master of Music in Performance, Gary continued his performance career as member of the U.S. Army Band and as an in-demand freelance musician in New York City metropolitan area.

In 1990. Gary settled behind his repair bench to begin a new chapter in instrument repair. With a degree in Fine Arts and a passion for construction, his affinity for repair of band and orchestral instruments came naturally and he realized he had found the perfect fit for his musical and technical interests.

Gary is a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT) and a member of the American Guild of Luthiers.

"I enjoy the day-to-day interaction with musicians, teachers, their students, their parents, and their instruments. Whether it's a touring musician's emergency adjustment, routine general maintenance, a complete instrument restoration or anything in between, I look forward to going into the shop every morning."

Manuel Antonio Matta Baeza

Passionate and dedicated Woodwind Instrument Repairman with over 20 years of experience repairing, restoring, and adjusting woodwind and brass instruments. Manuel had professional training at Selmer-Paris, France, where he gained technical training for repairing saxophones, clarinets, and brass instruments. He was also the founder and owner of the first professional repair shop dedicated exclusively to woodwind instruments in Santiago, Chile. Manuel has always looked for ways to improve his professional repairman skills. In 2013, he became a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT). Soon after, Manuel began an internship in Boston, Massachusetts, to gain personal training with Master Emilio Lyons. In 2014, he moved to New York City, where he became Repair Assistant at Roberto's Winds, a position he held until March 2020, when Covid-19 impacted NYC. At the same time that Manuel was developing his career as a woodwind instrument repairman, he was also the saxophonist at the Latin American pop music band Los Galos for 24 years. He still enjoys playing the saxophone in his free time.

Noah Stroka

Noah Stroka is an Instrument Technician and bassoonist from Binghamton, NY. Noah has received an AAS in Band Instrument Repair from Minnesota State Southeast (Redwing) in 2021, and will receive a BA in Instrumental Music - Bassoon from Ithaca College in 2022. Aside from music, Noah has an interest in visual art and likes to sculpt and draw.

Kellen Ko

Kellen is a third-year Music Education & Flute Performance double major at Ithaca College. Originally from Oregon, Kellen's interest in instrument repair started in high school from watching a local flute technician at work. They have experienced first-hand how a properly maintained instrument could transform your musicianship and confidence. Kellen is currently apprenticing under Gary McCheyne. Aside from instrument repair, Kellen is also an active flutist and music educator.

Steve Jones

Steve's craftsmanship as a woodwind repair technician has earned him a portfolio of clients, from local artists, students and faculty at Ithaca College and Cornell University to performers in the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Binghamton Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chicago Lyric Opera. He is a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), the International Double Reed Society, and is a Straubinger Pad Certified Tech. Always looking for opportunities to refine his skills, Steve has attended training seminars in flute overhaul and padding and has made a silver head joint with Jonathan Landell. Steve holds a Bachelor of Music in music education from the Crane School of Music, State University at Potsdam, and a Master of Music in Woodwind Performance with a concentration in oboe from Virginia Commonwealth University. Steve is also the owner of the Seneca Woodwind Shop.

David Zimet

As one of the owners of Hickey's Music Center, David Zimet brings his experience as a musician and a repair technician from his own Zimet Musical Services. David says, "As a player, I can see the changes that a good technician can make in equipment—in the way the horn plays and in the confidence it gives the players." David has a Bachelor of Arts in music from Hamilton College and holds a Masters in performance, bassoon, from Ithaca College. He also spent time working with Hans Moenig in Philadelphia. He has taught instrument repair at Ithaca college as well as presented clinics and workshops around the country. He is a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT) and has been repairing and managing shops for the last 40 years in "Woodstock, New York, El Paso, Texas and Ithaca, New York