"I've been going to Jay for well over a decade. He's very knowledgable [not just about instruments!] and his repair work is always exemplary, as well as timely and usually spot-on the first time. It's a rare occassion when I have to go back to have something tweaked. He's very accommodating when it comes to emergencies as well. I will not willingly go anywhere else for my instruments!"
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Les Allt | Principal Flute, National Ballet of Canada Orchestra
"Thank goodness Toronto is lucky enough to have Jay Gemmill! When I was growing up in Montreal we used to have to drive to Vermont to get my flute fixed! I think about that every time I'm driving to Jay's house: how fortunate that Toronto has a top notch flute repairman, always willing and able to attend to all my flute repairs and emergencies with expertise and a smile."
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Julie Ranti | Associate Principal Flute, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Testimonials
"Jay Gemmill has been fixing my flutes and piccolo and those of my students for many years. During the years, I have counted on Jay to keep all of my instruments working perfectly. With a minimum of fuss, he has always done exactly the work that needs to be done, finishing it quickly and always charging reasonable prices. I have always trusted his skill, his honesty, and his opinion and have never been disappointed. He has also been a great flute friend to talk to about various types of instruments, mechanisms, pads, etc. helping me stay on top of the student instrument world and helping students with their decisions.
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Jay has so many times saved my sanity with last minute and emergency work that he clearly does for many customers so I am always amazed to find him so calm, easily dealing with his crazy workload. Thanks Jay!"
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"I have been taking my flutes and piccolo to Jay Gemmill for over 15 years. Since I bought my Powell over 8 years ago, I only trust Jay to work on it. I am never disappointed with the results. Jay is clearly passionate about what he does, and he takes the time to explain what he does. He gives great suggestions on how to avoid problems in the future. Anytime anyone asks me about who they should take their flute to for maintenance and repair, I can't recommend Jay Gemmill highly enough!
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Jay is also a great carpenter. He designed and built a beautiful wooden case to hold my piccolo, flute, and extra head joint."
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"Jay is simply a superb and resourceful flute repairman. He keeps my flute in perfect working order and responds promptly to flute emergencies. He was instrumental in helping me recover from a serious injury by modifying my flute. He is both creative and knowledgeable, which is the perfrect combination of attributes in flute repair. I look forward to my visits with Jay, not just because he is so pleasant and I enjoy the laughs we share, but also because I know my flute is in the very best of hands."
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"I've been taking my flute to Jay for many years now. He is absolutely "the best" in the business. My flute always comes back in the best shape it can possibly be and it is always such a joy to play after Jay has worked on it. Jay also knows well the latest flute models on the market and gives me expert advice from a flute mechanic's point of view. I have often found this advice very helpful in trying to find just the right flute for particular students."
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Peg Albrecht | Undergraduate Sessional Lecturer, University of Toronto Faculty of Music
"I have known Jay for over a decade now and in that time have brought my flute to him for an assortment of issues. One example that truly stands out to me would have to be when I first moved to Toronto in 2006. I was running to catch the subway one evening and happened to fall down a flight of stairs with my flute in hand. Besides a bruised ego, my wood case cracked and caused quite a bit of damage to my instrument. Unsure of where to go or who to see, numerous colleagues recommended Jay and the Ontario Flute Centre. Not only did Jay fix my flute so it played better than it ever had before, but he also worked on my case; carving grooves into the interior to prevent future damage to my instrument and drilling a post into the width of my case to prevent further cracking or splitting. I even got to choose the type of wood he used to cover the post so I would be satisfied with the finished product. Outstanding! Now he is the only person I will bring my instruments to. He provides remarkable service - well above the standard I have ever expected.
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Over the years, I have also recommended several of my students to Jay for repairs and yearly maintenance work. Everytime, my students and their parents come back happy with a flute that feels better than new and knowledge of how to better care for their instrument in the future."
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