Celebrating 50 Years of Piedmont Opera: The Steinway Restoration

In this episode, we celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of Piedmont Opera by delving into the fascinating restoration of a 1909 Steinway piano. Join us as Bill Huesman, the piano technician who oversaw this remarkable project, shares insights into the history and significance of this instrument, which once belonged to the opera's founder, Norman Johnson. Bill recounts the challenges and triumphs of the restoration process, from maintaining the original ivory keys to upgrading the internal mechanisms, all while honoring the legacy of the founding family.As a special treat, we feature a musical selection performed by Shravya Pendyala, a talented piano student from UNCSA, who showcases the beautiful sound of the newly restored piano. An Indian - American pianist, Shravya is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Piano Performance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the tutelage of Dr. Dmitri Shteinberg. Shravya has started learning piano since she was five years old. At the age of seven, she started studying under the tutelage of Dr. Eugene Barban, Professor Emeritus, and head of the piano department at Winthrop University. Shravya has performed in many concerts and festivals, such as the UNCSA Piano Department Concert, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and Music Carolina Summerfest. As an advocate for contemporary music, she has performed Leto II for piano quartet in a program called The Spectrum written by UNCSA composition student Jacob McCoy as well as premiered a work by composer Andrew McFarland. She also participated in several masterclasses with well-known pianists, such as Gila Goldstein, Yakov Kasman, Svetozar Ivanov, Hiyeon Choi, and Anthony De Mare. Shravya has won first prize at the South Carolina Piano Festival, and second prize at the Edwin Hughes Piano Competition. She also was awarded an honorable mention at the Florida Young Artists International Piano Competition and the NCMTNA. She was also a finalist at the UNCSA Concerto Competition. Tune in to hear not only the enchanting music but also the heartfelt stories behind this beloved instrument, as we embark on a journey through the rich history of Piedmont Opera.Donate to Piedmont Opera: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36795/store/donations/51775