Meet the shop
Brass / Woodwind / Accordion Technician
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Macen’s education and professional career have taken him across the country and overseas. Born in Tucson, Arizona, to a military family brought him all around the United States. He began his undergraduate degree at the Rockville community college, Maryland, and then transferred to the University of Texas at El Paso to complete a BA in Music Education with bassoon focus, under professor and professional bassoonist Cara Luffey.
Mr. Molina then continued his education to pursue brass and woodwind instrument repair, completing the Band Instrument Repair Program at Minnesota State College Southeast, Red Wing. Receiving the Beckwith Foundation scholarship and achieving high honors. He has continued to practice and hone his craft as a professional woodwind and brasswind repair technician with a specialty in double reeds. He enjoys fine-tuning instruments and meeting the player's desires and needs.
“The high prize of life, the crowning glory of a person is to be born with a bias to some pursuit which finds them in employment and happiness -- whether it be to make baskets, or broadswords, or canals, or statues, or songs.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Woodwind Technician
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Angelina is an oboist of twenty years with an undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Master's degree in Music performance under the direction of Dr. Andrea Shaheen. She has had the privilege to performed with various ensembles in the El Paso and Las Cruces area such as EPSO and LCSO but most notably the El Paso Wind Symphony as principal oboist.
Angelina began repairing woodwind instruments as an apprentice to Larry Thompson in 2017 and is now a recent 2022 graduate with honors from Redwing Technical College in band instrument repair. Her certification includes both woodwind and brass but her specialty lies in woodwinds. She is also a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT).
If you wish to contact her with any questions about overhauls, restorations, or any other repair needs please feel free to email her at: amontalvo.olivasmusic@yahoo.com
String Technician
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Eliab is a professional mariachi and multi-instrumentalist currently serving as a string repair technician at Olivas Music. Specializing in stringed instruments ranging from violins and cellos to guitars — both acoustic and electric — Eliab brings a deep understanding of how these instruments should feel and sound in a musician’s hands.
Though he has not attended a formal repair school, Eliab is currently being mentored by master luthier Joe “Pepe” Aguirre and has gained hands-on experience through dedicated practice and mentorship. He is currently pursuing a degree in History and Secondary Education while continuing to grow in the repair field.
Eliab plays harp, guitar, guitarrón, vihuela, piano, and sings professionally. He believes that instruments are tools of expression — “that the easier they are to play, the better the music comes out of you.” Whether it’s adjusting a cello for comfort or bringing a worn-out guitar back to life, Eliab finds deep fulfillment in helping musicians reconnect with their sound.
Brass / Woodwind Technician-
Joe "Pepe" Aguirre was born in Anthony, New Mexico and has been serving the borderland's music community for over 50 years.
Starting his career at just 16 years old, Joe has developed deep expertise in both brass and woodwind repair. He has worked as an instrument repair technician for both the El Paso Independent School District and the Ysleta Independent School District for a combined total of 18 years. Additionally, he has worked for other local music retailers of El Paso's music scene including Harmony Shop, May-N-Duncan, Kurland Salzman, Brooks Mays and at one point owned his own repair shop.
Beyond his technical skill, "Pepe" is known for his humor, approachable personality and genuine love for music. Currently, he is the Olivas Music woodwind technician for rental instruments under our Damage and Maintenance protection plan. Whether it be a minor adjustment or an emergency repair, Joe takes great care in providing efficient services to help musicians get back to what they love.