For a concert hall to have even one Steinway Grand Piano is a boon. But to have two? That鈥檚 something else. For the past 25 years, Greeley鈥檚 Union Colony Civic Center has been one of those lucky places with two of the prized instruments.
Both Steinways have been recently refurbished to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the .
A quarter century ago it was pianist Phyllis Eaton鈥檚 ears and fingers, along with former University of Northern Colorado artist-in-residence Daniel Graham, who helped select the ebony-and-ivory duo, which were gifted to the venue.
鈥淚t was such a thrill to go to the Steinway factory and not only play these instruments in their showroom, as Dan and I did, but they gave us a tour of the facility,鈥� said the soft-spoken Eaton.
The process that yields a Steinway is largely handcrafted. There鈥檚 12,116 parts in all, and the result is a unique a 鈥減ersonality鈥� for each instrument, Eaton added.
Eaton's sister, Maggie Peterson Mancuso, sang at a community celebration to mark the UCCC鈥檚 opening in 1988. She was accompanied by one of those Steinways and her brothers鈥� band.
"It was exciting," Mancuso stated ebulliently. "We were used to the armory or gymnasiums so this was really exciting to have this big beautiful hall."
Mancuso is an actress and singer. Under her maiden name Peterson, she became known for her role as Charlene Darling on the Andy Griffith show.
http://youtu.be/W2nEgYiqQUk
The Steinways on the UCCC stage, like the two sisters, are a study in contrast. Restoring them required shipping the massive instruments to New York City for new pin blocks and strings, as well as repairing keys and small dings on the body. After that, the instruments awaited their 鈥渇inal voicing.鈥�
鈥淭hey make fine-tuning adjustments when they are actually in the theater, they can hear them in the place that they鈥檒l be played and make final adjustments,鈥� said UCCC Technical Services Coordinator Jason Evenson.
One piano will be voiced to support the work of piano soloists like Eaton, a member of the Greeley Philharmonic. The result is a more reserved sound quality. The other piano will have an adjustment that yields a more boisterous sound, maybe readying it for the hands of a jazz musician.
What鈥檚 the benefit of having two Steinways under one roof? You can hear it in this rendition of 鈥淩hapsody on a Theme of Paganini鈥� by Sergei Rachmaninoff, performed by Lei Weng on one of the Steinway grand鈥檚 at the UCCC.
According to Steinway, 97 percent of all concert piano soloists who performed in 2011-2012 chose to play on a Steinway. Over the past quarter century at the UCCC, the two Steinways have helped to attract top musical talent to the 1,700 seat Monfort Concert Hall including, John Musto, Jim Brickman, and Doc Severinsen.
But why a Steinway? Think of it this way 鈥� Pinto versus Rolls Royce. Both cars will get you to your destination but a ride in the later would be something to Tweet about.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 go wrong with a Steinway,鈥� says Phyllis Eaton.
Arts District is a collaboration of KUNC, Rocky Mountain PBS, and KUVO.
