Mozart Recital Showcases RIT’s Rebuilt Steinway, March 31

Half a century is a long time to go without a makeover, especially if you’re a seven-foot Steinway that’s seen better days. Marred and chipped and worn out, the old piano—a carry over from Eisenhower College—was sent away last August to a technician’s studio in Canandaigua for a much-needed overhaul.

Last month, the piano was returned to Rochester Institute of Technology’s Fine Arts Department with new strings, shanks, hammers and pin block (where the tuning takes place). The $12,000 job included a deep ebony finish and a beautiful new sound. Part of the package included a bench and a lock to keep the instrument safe from sloppy fingers and primed for lessons and recitals.

The music program in the College of Liberal Arts owns a small fleet of pianos, 10 in all, but none as nice as the rebuilt Steinway. And with the growing number of students taking music classes, private lessons and involved with the various music groups, a decent piano is a must.

“We have not had a good recital instrument in all the years I’ve been here other than the Baldwin grand on Ingle (Auditorium) stage,” says Ed Schell, music director and professor at RIT for 24 years. “Now we have a really top-notch instrument for recitals.”

The Steinway will feature prominently in the upcoming All Mozart recital celebrating the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. The free concert, which was postponed until the piano’s return, will take place at 1 p.m. Friday, March 31, in the Student Alumni Union Music Room, A120. RIT voice and piano students will perform a variety of pieces including Rondo in D, and excerpts from Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute and Requiem, among other works.

For more information, contact Schell at 475-6087.