ABOUT US

Our Founder — Robert Loewen

We provide a large selection of quality pianos and accessories as well as top drawer service, carrying a number of brands you won't find anywhere else in BC. Come and see our selection of every category of piano from entry level to ultra high end.

Experience and Knowledge

Although Fraser Piano Center is the newest piano store to enter the retail market in Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Robert Loewen, is no newcomer to the piano scene. All of the piano information on this website was provided by Bob Loewen. Bob has not only visited numerous factories around the world but has made substantial connections within the industry during his career. Having previously spent 10 years as a successful retail store owner and over 25 years as the owner of a piano import and distribution business in Canada and the U.S. as well as spending 2 years living in Germany as owner of an additional piano distribution company, puts Bob squarely in a position to discuss pianos knowledgeably.

A Family Affair For Over 70 Years

Robert’s father, William Loewen, started in the piano business in 1936 in Winnipeg as a small retailer dealing in pianos and other items. William Loewen’s two older sons, Bill and Walter were an instrumental part in the success of the family business. After some years the business started to specialize in pianos and was officially called “The Piano House.” In 1960 the Piano House became the exclusive Canadian distributor for the high end Japanese brand of pianos and musical instruments called "Yamaha".

This arrangement lasted until 1974 when Nippon Gakki, now Yamaha Corporation of Japan, bought out the interests of our family business, Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. During the tenure with Yamaha the family business sold literally thousands upon thousands of Yamaha pianos, organs and other musical instruments in the Canadian market and essentially put Yamaha on the Canadian map.

 



In the mid sixties, brother Bill moved to Vancouver and introduced Kawai pianos to the Canadian market as their Canadian distributor while Walter continued to manage and grow the Yamaha line including the Yamaha Music School System.

In 1981, after having spent 10 years as a piano retailer in Winnipeg as Loewen Pianos Ltd., Bob was given the exclusive distribution rights for SAMICK pianos in Canada. Samick, a Korean piano manufacturer, produced their pianos only in Korea at that time. This contract lasted 15 years at which time Samick commenced their own distribution efforts in Canada through their U.S. subsidiary. During his agreement with Samick, Bob’s company, Robert R. Loewen Distributors Ltd., imported and distributed over 27,000 pianos through the Samick dealer network he had developed. This put Samick squarely on the map in Canada.

Creation of the Steigerman Brand

When Yamaha pianos were first imported to Canada they were branded “STEIGERMAN”, as listed in the Pierce Piano Atlas, and were eventually changed to YAMAHA. Steigerman is a brand name that has belonged to the Loewen family since 1960.

In 1995, when both Korean and Japanese pianos had become more expensive, Bob started “Steigerman Music Corp.” which acted as the importer and distributor of Chinese pianos under the well known brand name “STEIGERMAN”. With the acceptance of the Chinese quality and pricing, Steigerman pianos have become very popular and Steigerman Music Corp. has distributed over 10,000 in Europe , U.S.A. and Canada. In 2006 Steigerman segregated their lines into 2 categories, Steigerman “Classic” and Steigerman “Premium”, both from different factories. The Classic being more entry level and the Premium being a higher performance instrument with German action components. Steigerman Music Corp. has their offices in Langley B.C.

Please come and see us at Fraser Piano Center.  We know you'll be pleased with the pricing, the selection and the service.
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