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There are so many
reasons to burst with pride as the Castro Valley Center for the
Arts gets ready for its Grand Opening Weekend, January 28 and 29.
The gift of two beautiful pianos is right at
the top of the list!
When we first met
around the table at the District Office in l998, the project of
building a performing arts center seemed daunting. Everyone
agreed that Castro Valley had produced some outstanding talent and
we thought the artists deserved a venue to shine. But where to
turn?
With the old
fashioned spirit of a small town, the people of Castro Valley
whole- heartedly passed Measure C and have since continued to come
forth with amazing generosity. And thus we come to the tale of
two pianos: a vintage Steinway, M (5 foot, 7 inches) and a brand
new Yamaha C-7 (7foot, 6 inches).
For the Opening
Weekend, our Steinway has been placed in the lobby for all to
see. It was hand built in 1941, one of the last pianos assembled
before all piano production ceased when U.S. factories retooled
for the WWII war effort. It’s unique with its art deco cabinet and
sterling silver name plate. In preparation for its new home, it
has been lovingly restored. Mary Lee Shephard, a Julliard School
of Music graduate and concert pianist first owned this piano. She
left her piano to Marietta and Cecil Murphree and now the
Murphrees have gifted their beloved piano to the Castro Valley
Center for the Arts. After this weekend, the Steinway will move
to the Exhibition Room where it will be enjoyed for recitals,
workshops and competitions for years to come.
Our shiny
blackYamaha is a joint gift from Bob Engel, owner of PIANOS plus,
and the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Southern
Alameda County Branch. The idea for gifting the piano to the
Center grew out of a planning session last August, 2005, when the
Alameda County Branch Board realized: “Everyone who is anyone is
commemorating Mozart’s 250th birthday!”
Celebrating one
of our most revered Western composers and the opening of the
Castro Valley Center for the Arts seemed a perfect match. In the
meantime, the Alameda County Branch wanted to make a donation
towards a grand piano for the Center, in hopes that it could be a
home for their many recitals and events.
Branch President
Jeanne Fisher talked to Bob Engel of PIANOS plus about the
particulars of purchasing a piano for the Center. How much more
money would have to be raised? Profits from the Mozart Festival
would go towards the piano, but it could be years before the full
amount was reached.
And then Bob
Engel called the Castro Valley Arts Foundation and offered to
partner with the Alameda Branch to put a new Yamaha on the
stage. Bob commented, “Castro Valley has been good to me over the
years I have been in business here. I would like to give back to
my community.”
In March, 110
teachers of the Southern Alameda Chapter will host 350 students in
a 3-day Branch Honor Recital here at the Center. Both pianos will
be played non-stop. Thank you, Castro Valley.
Terry
Liebowitz, Vice President
Castro Valley Arts Foundation
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