ABOUT : OUR STAFF


Unlike most piano retailers, LAFARGUE PIANOS is technician ­owned and run by a staff of musicians, not sales people. With a passion for pianos and music education, we will not recite a sales brochure or pressure you. LAFARGUE PIANOS has won numerous awards over the years, including most recently, YAMAHA MUSIC CORPORATION’s “Outstanding Piano Dealer of the Year Award” for 2015. The award was for sales and marketing successes, our level of personal attention, and our commitment to promoting music, the arts, and music education in our community. Visit us today and see how LAFARGUE PIANOS has earned a great reputation and continues to lead!


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LANCE LAFARGUE, Owner

Lance Lafargue began studying piano tuning and maintenance in the mid 1980′s. After several apprenticeships, study through the Piano Technician’s Guild’s vast technical literature and factory training with both Yamaha and Steinway, Mr. Lafargue has established himself as a skilled technician in all aspects of piano maintenance and restoration He achieved certification early in his career as a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild and has spent the last several years training others in the trade. Some of his apprentices have gone on to become successful technicians and dealers themselves and now three of them currently work with him with a passion for pianos.

In addition to regular tuning and service experience, he has also rebuilt many vintage instruments and kept a busy concert technician schedule. Mr. Lafargue has worked for the major piano competitions in the New Orleans area, hundreds of musicians, teachers and institutions such as the Concert and Artist Division of Steinway and Yamaha, the University of New Orleans, Dillard University, Tulane University, Loyola University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the Saegner Theater, Louisiana Philharmonic, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Jefferson Performing Arts Society to name a few. Numerous recording artists and performers have sought him for the preparation of instruments for recordings in the New Orleans area and he still travels to New York and California to do service and consulting work.

Because of his complete knowledge of the restoration of the finest pianos, he specializes in achieving optimum touch, tone and action response in every instrument. This knowledge and a desire to help people has led him into the piano retail business.

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BRENDA LAFARGUE, Owner

Brenda Lafargue handles the business office and the sheet music department. She has worked closely with teachers and institutions to develop and build the sheet music department in a way that stocks both variety and depth for several instruments and voice. You will find the department well-organized with an attitude of helpful, friendly service.

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Jonathan Thomas, Sales

Jonathan earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University where he studied Percussion Performance. He plays many other instruments as well, including guitar, clarinet, trumpet and piano. Jonathan is passionate about music education and is excited to be a part of helping others find their own way to experience music.

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Deborah Turner, Administration

Deborah was born and raised in Manassas, Virginia. She began private piano lessons at the age of 5 years old and she plays several other instruments as well, including violin, viola, and clarinet. As a teenager, she became a musical coordinator and accompanist for a church in Virginia and still plays in churches today. Deborah is an excellent pianist and sight reader and with her knowledge, she has been a great asset in the sheet music department assisting customers. She wears many hats here and in addition to sheet music, Deborah also helps with the business and school administration, piano sales, violin department, and reception. You will find Deborah to be patient, organized, and knowledgeable in nearly all areas here at LAFARGUE’s.

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AARON RODRIGUEZ, Registered Piano Technician

Aaron is a pianist and began an apprenticeship as a junior in high school and quickly achieved certification as a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild. Aaron is well experienced in all aspects of piano service, Disklavier service and PianoDisc player installation and service. He is also a graduate of Yamaha’s “Little Red Schoolhouse” – Yamaha’s rigorous factory training program.

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Denis Lafargue, Registered Piano Technician

Denis has grown up in the piano business, working in the shop as he went through school and earned his Registered Piano Technician Certification from the Piano Technicians Guild and his Bachelors Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Business Management in 2014. Denis has a well-rounded technical training background and experience in all aspects of the instrument. He loves serving people and enjoys what he does.