Theo Kobald was born in Canada in 1967. After a cabinet making course in Vancouver he returned to The Netherlands and joined his brother Paul in the piano restoring company “The Kobald bros.” The many instruments that passed through their workshop sparkled an interest in period instruments, especially the construction and sound. They started to build Viennese fortepiano’s alongside their restaurations of modern and historical instruments. The first Walter fortepiano was purchased by the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. 

After twenty years of working together the brothers decided to split up in good cheer and each pursue their own interests in piano work. Paul built a positive organ on his own and currently restores mostly historical instruments in Amsterdam. Theo continued the business in Apeldoorn and extended his model range: inspired by a client he made a fortepiano after Johann Fritz. Theo’s instruments can be heard in The Netherlands, Germany, France and Japan.