Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessa Meis.
Hi Tessa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from Detroit, Michigan but spent the past 45 years in Denver, Colorado. It was there I met my husband, Greg Meis. We have 3 wonderful children, 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Greg and I both are musicians and have played in and around Denver before opening Meis Musical Instrument Repair Inc. in the early 90’s.
My initial passion was to become a nurse but instead it turned out that I would be bringing musical instruments back to life. That’s one reason we’re called the music doctors.
The business started with just the two of us but with the help of our children, which started by cleaning the smaller instruments for candy money to becoming instrument repair technicians themselves before moving into their own interests in life. All are now in their 40’s but were a valuable part of growing our business. While in Denver we employed 10 to 12 technicians and trained countless others.
Now we have 1 of our grandsons to help and we’re thinking he will be the one to take over when we do finally retire.
For the past 35 + years we have repaired for many music stores, public schools and a multitude of pro musicians, to name a few were in Tower of Power and Billy Joel and many artists who played the Pepsi center and Red Rocks Amphitheater, we also repair for the Bahamian Youth Orchestra in Nassau Bahamas.
Tessa’s expertise is in Orchestral String Repair, serving many symphony players such as cello, violin, viola and bass players as well as the re.hairing of the bows to play these instruments.
I’ve taught people in universities as well as in our own shop, how to restore and repair these instruments for many years even my daughters Aspen and Andrea and working side by side with them was the highlight of my career until Aspen moved to Georgia and Andrea moved to Idaho.
About 2 1/2 years ago we decided to move our company here to be closer to Aspen and her family and we’re enjoying every minute of it.
We love the people and the area so much and it feels like we made the right move.
I also repair some brass and clarinets; my husband Greg taught me how to repair those instruments.
Greg repairs all instruments and is well sought after for his outstanding skill in instrument repair. People from all over still send their instruments to him. He’s known to be one of the top three Technicians around.
Running a repair shop hasn’t always been easy, there are many hats you wear owning your own small business, but it’s well worth it, and at the end of the day when we see the smile on a customer’s face that comes into the shop with an instrument they thought could not be fixed, actually play again is one of the greatest rewards to us.
“We will keep the music playing in Brunswick”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are many struggles when running your own business, you’re responsible for anything and everything, there’s a lot of pressure, but especially its success. We’ve been in business for over 35 years and have gone through a lot of trials so no it hasn’t always been smooth going but well worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in Orchestral Strings, cellos violins violas and basses as well as re-hairing the bows to these instruments.
We take pride in our work; we treat every instrument as if it were our own.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I really wanted to be a nurse like my mother; she was the biggest influence in my life. She was hard working and taught me the value of that as well as the importance of family and how to treat others with value and respect.
I’ve always played one instrument or another with my brothers growing up but my husband Greg taught me the value of going the extra mile for others and if you’re going to do a job for someone, do it with all you’ve got.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.meismusic.com
