We are excited to announce Tim Wirth, Piano Technician with the School of Music at WSU Pullman as a Crimson Spirit Award recipient.

Tim’s nominators had many great things to say. “Tim does not just accomplish his tasks effectively; he does his job out of love. He deeply cares about every piano in the School of Music and works tirelessly to bring them to their full potential, envisioning how he can improve them on the long term.”

“It is standard practice that every time a piano needs to be serviced – either for a lengthy tuning or a small adjustment – the pianist contacts the piano technician. In the last few years, I strangely noticed that my office pianos were constantly getting better, without me forwarding any request to Tim, until I finally solved this mystery: he was putting in early hours to work on my pianos – and others too – even before I made it to school and classes started, so as not to interfere with lessons and lectures.”

“When piano guest artists have a performance scheduled at the School of Music, Tim not only books the concert hall, prior to the dress rehearsal, to work on the piano impeccably, but he also checks with them afterwards to make sure their experience with the instrument – and therefore at WSU – is the best it can be.”

“The perfect tuning he provides is only one small part of his professionalism, and he truly sees the whole instrument as a machine that will improve over time through consistent extra work. Tim does not only anticipate faculty and students’ needs, but he genuinely understands the potential of each piano, and works assiduously to bring the instrument to a level that it is hard to imagine. Our pianos would not be at this level without his intuitive vision, expertise, and incredible work ethic. Every pianist performing in our concert halls or recording studio cannot help but praise Timothy’s job.”

“He has completely exceeded expectations in every regard, from the high quality of his work and the extra hours he regularly puts in, to the support he provides on every occasion and the plan he has envisioned to guarantee the longest and best life to our pianos.

“If having a full-time piano technician on staff is a rarity, having someone like him is a dream. I have also the privilege of knowing Tim not just as a colleague but also as a friend. He is one of the kindest, most humble and compassionate human beings one can meet, and there is nothing he would not do to help those around him.”

“In all this time, I never heard him complain about anything or anyone, and even during challenging moments he gives you a beam of positivity and expresses his gratitude for his job at WSU and those around him.”