We are a small repair shop located northwest of Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia. Our customers come to us from all over the Southeast or ship their instruments from all over the United States and even from abroad.
Rich Ita is a trumpet and cornet player and avid
collector. He began his apprenticeship as a brass
instrument repair technician in 1971 at ATEC Music
Service in the suburbs of Washington, DC,
collaborating with military band repairmen Conrad
Brown, Ed Simmons and Art Accardo. The shop was
involved in an effort by the Smithsonian Institute to
put together a Civil War period band for recording
purposes. It was then that a fascination with 19th
century brass instruments took root.
A move in 1990 to the warmer climate of Atlanta brought him to an area starved for experienced repairmen. After six years at the areas largest retail music store, Ken Stanton Music, he opened his own shop - the Brass Instrument Workshop - and suddenly found himself hanging on for dear life and loving every minute of it! Rich would like to sincerely thank all of the wonderfully talented brass musicians who have placed their trust in his skills and have given him the opportunity to do the work he truly loves - making their prized instruments perform and look their best.
After a four year stint in the Army as a trumpet player,
he accepted a job at the Schilke factory in Chicago,
where he worked for several years until Mr. Schilke's death. He then freelanced as a repairman in the
Chicago area doing work for Nappe Music House and Evanston Band & Orchestra. Rich gained experience in the re-creation of Baroque instruments in the shop of Ron Collier, making reproductions of natural trumpets and Sacbutts and doing other historical restoration work.
Phillip Ehrmann is the Senior Repair Specialist at Brass Instrument Workshop. Phillip specializes in ensuring quality repairs and restorations in addition to creating a highly selected retail experience. During his 25 years studying and perfecting his craft of brass repair, Phillip earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance from Northwestern University. He continued honing his craft while also playing with multiple orchestras around the country and continuing a 17 year tenure as second chair trumpet with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his 25 years working in brass instrument repair, Phillip maintains the "Phil's"osophy that quality work speaks for itself.
Phillip has an amazing wife and two daughters who he loves to support through his work. Visit the shop to see his daughters ever evolving art gallery.
"Our goal is that every horn leaves the workshop playing and looking as perfect as possible. We take great pride in our work, and also in the smiling faces of our customers when they receive their instrument. As a trumpet player, I realize how difficult it is to entrust one's horn to just anyone for repairs or modifications. We pledge to you our absolute best effort honed over 45 years as a brass repairmen. We will listen carefully, make suggestions, and share the knowledge we have acquired during that time to help you put your instrument in a condition that will enhance it’s performance and make you proud to display it."
- Rich Ita