4 • The Beacon September 15 , 2022
RVHS seeks to restore its Steinway Grand Piano
By Josie Sellers
For almost 60 years , a Steinway
Grand Piano has graced the auditorium at River View High School . Now with the help of the community , the music department is planning to give it some needed work .
“ When the school opened in 1965 , this piano was about 2 years old ,” said Dawn Anglin , choir director . “ It ’ s time to restore the exterior and interior .”
Assistant band director Mark Wagner put together a brochure explaining to potential donors why the project is important and necessary .
“ It is very much tied to the history of the school ,” he said . “ It ’ s been used for many performances and is nostalgic for many alumni who have either played it or sang along to it .”
One of those alumni is Beth Kidwell , who graduated from River View High School in 1989 .
“ I was the accompanist for A Cappella Choir and Certified Gold for four years ,” she said . “ I spent a lot of time playing that Steinway Grand Piano . My best memories from high school are from the time spent in band and choir . My ongoing love of the arts , specifically the musical arts , was strengthened during my years in the River View Music Department .”
Anglin said they are not sure who brought the piano to the school but know it was a wise choice .
“ It ’ s the Cadillac of pianos ,” she said . “ It ’ s a quality instrument , and the whole district really uses it in some fashion . We ’ ve used it for recordings with our kids , the Lions Club has used it in the past , all the schools use it for Christmas programs and there are lots of other ways it gets used . We ’ ve worked really hard to keep it up .”
Wagner said currently more than 1,000 River View students perform on stage each year using the Steinway piano as part of the performance . The music department believes more than 15,000 students have known this piano as a part of River View rehearsals and performances over the years .
“ As a longtime accompanist for the River View Music Department , I have had the opportunity to play the beautiful Steinway as well as many other pianos of varying condition and quality ,” Jan Rice said . “ Two of my children participated in the RV Music Department and as adults continue to use their musical abilities at work and for pleasure . Music in our schools is so important for so many reasons . The Steinway should be restored to continue enhancing the music at RV for many years .”
Replacing the piano would cost $ 86,200 , but Wagner found a company that would restore it for an estimated $ 45,000 .
The restoration project brochure says the piano ’ s problem is with its pin block and action . Wagner shares in the brochure that
Submitted
River View High School chamber choir students are one of many groups that use the piano . They are pictured here practicing for a large group contest .
Submitted
Assistant band director Mark Wagner , pictured playing the piano , put together a brochure explaining to potential donors why the project is important and necessary .
there are more than 10,000 moving parts in a grand piano , and the life expectancy of a Steinway is about 40 years before it needs to be rebuilt .
Lindeblad Piano Restoration Company in New Jersey will do the restoration work on River View ’ s piano .
“ In the next couple of weeks , they will pick it up and take it
“
Music in our schools is so important for so many reasons . The Steinway should be restored to continue enhancing the music at RV for many years .”
Jan Rice
back to New Jersey and evaluate it ,” Wagner said . “ After all these years , it is just wore out .”
The work should take three months to complete , but parts have to be ordered from Steinway itself and can take nine months to get . Until the piano is returned , one that is currently in Anglin ’ s office will be used .
“ It ’ s not as pretty or as nice , but we will get through with it ,” she said .
Wagner said 85-90 % of the funding for the project has been secured with the help of several grants and private donations .
“ The school felt confident enough about the rest of the funding that we wanted to get ( the piano ) out of here and started on so we can get it back within a year ,” he said . “ The final payment will be due when it ’ s returned . Our eyes are on the long-term goal . When we get it back , we will be able to get another 50-plus years of great service to the music department out of it without having to worry .”
To make a tax-deductible donation to the project , send checks to River View High School , 26496 state Route 60 N ., Warsaw , OH 43844 . Include a note to designate the gift to the Steinway Piano Fund along with your desire to be named as a donor or to remain anonymous . For more information email Wagner at mark . wagner @ rvbears . org .