Hoe Fook Ling was born in Ningbo Zhejiang, the only son of a Sundry Manager, was sent to Japan to learn the art of piano making by his father. In 1920, he decided to emigrate from Ningbo China to Singapore leaving his wife, his only son and 6 daughters behind.

In Singapore, he setup a piano business called Union Piano Co. and a branch in Malaysia (then known as Malaya) with a close relative. Not long after, he successfully built his first piano in his workshop under the brand 'Kinner'. Unfortunately, his father was very ill and at the age of 48 he gave up everything to his relative in Singapore and return to China to take care of his father.

By 1850s, Shanghai already had a piano shop, Moutrie & Company. It was the first piano company that started with the sale and maintenance of pianos and other instruments in China. In 1890, Moutrie built the first piano factory in Shanghai with English workers and soon recruit Chinese workers from Ningbo - famous for their woodworking skills. Over the years, their pianos enjoyed great recognition in China and were exported to Southern Asian countries.

His son, Hoe Ah Choy chose the same career paths as his father joined the company as a piano apprentice. Later, in 1936 at the age of 25, he was sent to Malaysia (then known as Malaya) by the company as a piano tuner and repairer. Eventually, Moutrie & Company closed down in the early 1950s, as did other foreign enterprises.

In 1951, he and his wife setup Wagner Piano Company at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (then known as Batu Road) selling pianos imported from United Kingdom such as Kemble, J & J Hopkinson, Rogers, Bentley, John Brinsmead, Leswien and Zender and established WAGNER piano.

He started piano assembling from semi-completed form from United Kingdom and later from Germany and Japan with the help of his children. As the demand grows the shop became too small and in 1960, the company moved to a larger premise at Jalan Dang Wangi (then known as Campbell Road) and later at Jalan Imbi. There, he went one step further producing piano cabinets locally in order to stay competitive.

In 1969, the eldest son and his siblings were sent on tour of piano factories in the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Korea, Japan and Taiwan to study the techniques of piano construction. In 1972, Musical Product Sdn Bhd at Lahat Perak was setup manufacturing pianos under license of English and German marques.

On the 16 April 1975, Wagner Piano Company was renamed to Wagner Piano Sdn Bhd. Soon after, branch offices were setup in various states and appointed over 20 dealers across Malaysia.

In 1980s, Wagner Petrof Piano Pte Ltd (formerly known as Petrof Piano House) was formed in Singapore as exclusive agent of WAGNER, PETROF, WEINBACH, ROSLER & SCHOLZE pianos for Southeast Asia and Australasia.

Today, Wagner Piano Sdn Bhd has grown into one of the most reputable piano retailer and the sole distributor of world's top brand names in Malaysia and a piano service center with dedicated teams specialized in piano tuning, piano service and maintenance needs, including player piano and silent system installations. Wagner Piano Sdn Bhd also offer music books, accessories and lessons for children and adults.