Orem High School is restoring a 116-year-old Steinway concert grand Piano.
The piano is believed to have arrived in Utah on the transcontinental railroad and languished for years after being accidentally dropped into the orchestra pit, used as a workbench by a handyman, and operated with a cracked sound board.
The piano was about to be chopped up for firewood," said organizers. "But knowing the extraordinary value of the piano, Orem High School choral Director Sterling Keyes had the piano evaluated for repairs in 2004."
It is valued at $32,000 and it has understandably taken almost 8 years to raise that sum. $9,000 was raised from students, parents, alumni, and businesses. The Ashton Foundation contributed two $5,000 donations and the Music Opportunity Network pushed the total closer to the target. $4,800 short, the school's principal Michael Browning produced the remaining money from school funds.
Keyes said having a Steinway piano to practice on and accompany performances gives students a chance to learn "on the very best. It says something about the quality of our arts program to have a label like Steinway on our stage performing with young musicians. It says to them you don't have to wait until your specialized music career to experience the very best." Keyes also said that when done, "it will operate better than a brand-new factory Steinway."
The 116 year old piano, a Steinway top of the line D series, will get a new soundboard, pin-block, strings, felt, keyboard, action and damper-system. It was originally donated to Orem High by a local Orem family, who inherited it from their pioneer grandmother. It is not clear what year the piano actually arrived at Orem and may have been a gift to the old Lincoln High School.
Rick Baldassin, owner of Baldassin Pianos in Salt Lake City, is doing the restoration work. When the work is done, the piano will be valued at $75,000. "I really admire what they are doing, trying to preserve part of their history," Baldassin said. "And when we are done, we will have an instrument that will serve the school for the next 75 or 100 years."
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