Jeff Falgien, a piano industry veteran with an impressive career spanning 44 years, has been named CEO of the newly-formed Texas Piano Group LLC.
In his role, Falgien oversees the expansion of the company’s piano retail operations into underserved markets outside Texas. He reports to Darren Speir, owner of Texas Piano Group and dealer principal of Metroplex Piano, headquartered in Plano, Texas.
Falgien brings more than four decades of piano industry experience to his position, most notably serving as vice president and co-owner of Los Angeles-based Keyboard Concepts for 38 years, with longtime business partner Dennis Hagerty. Together, they expanded the company into a five-store franchise, establishing Keyboard Concepts as one of the largest piano retailers in North America. From 2009 to 2012, Falgien sat on the board of directors of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), working with several of the most prominent retailers in the US and serving as the grants and scholarships chairperson for the music organization. He is the recipient of the 2016 Steve Allen Champion of Education Award, which recognizes individuals and/or organizations who have dedicated their lives to improving education.
Falgien departed from Keyboard Concepts in December 2020 and moved to Oklahoma, citing his desire to be closer to his daughter, who recently had a baby. He had planned to retire from the piano business altogether. Still, a powerful combination of Speir’s persistence and the challenge of growing an exciting new piano retail venture proved all too compelling.
“Jeff’s unwavering dedication, depth of experience and passion for everything he does — from building an enviable track record in piano retail to coaching his high school football teams to the Los Angeles City Championships, where he was named the 2019 LA Rams “Coach of the Week”— made him the clear choice for this important leadership position,” said Speir. “I look forward to working closely with him in strengthening our piano retail network and creating more active music makers.”
Right out of the gate, Texas Piano Group has already established strong footholds in Kansas and Arkansas, having recently opened Kansas City Piano in Overland Park and Little Rock Piano, respectively.
Kansas City Piano is an 8,500-square-foot building that inherits a rich music retail history, having served as a retail hub for both Jenkin’s Music and most recently, Schmitt Music. The store is equipped with a 90-seat recital hall and a dedicated Disklavier piano room, as well as a performance space, to showcase the store’s premium instruments. Little Rock Piano, a 5,000-square-foot space, expanded from a smaller location in the same center back in December. Flatscreen televisions are prominently featured throughout both stores, providing customers with engaging tutorials of the technologically advanced pianos on display. Both locations carry a fine selection of acoustic instruments, including Yamaha, Bösendorfer, Seiler and Pearl River.
“I am truly grateful to Darren for the opportunity to grow the piano business on behalf of the Texas Piano Group,” said Falgien. “Kansas City Piano and Little Rock Piano are gorgeous destinations for people of all ages who want to discover the joy of playing the piano. What’s more, music teachers and their students not only have access to the most incredible, technology-advanced instruments, but they also have access to the most inspiring space to appreciate them fully.”
Besides his all-encompassing piano retail career, Falgien also served as an ordained pastor for West Valley Christian Church in West Hills, California, and as head football coach at El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills. His ministry continues at Cedar Ridge Christian Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and he has joined the football staff at Coweta (Oklahoma) High School. He lives in Coweta with his wife, Cheri.
For more information about Texas Piano Group and Metroplex Piano, please visit http://www.metroplexpiano.com
