A swan song for New Trier’s grand piano and the $250,000 campaign to replace it

After nearly a century of teaching students, accompanying theatrical performances and entertaining audiences, the grand piano at New Trier High School’s Gaffney Auditorium is preparing for its final curtain call.

The full grand Steinway piano, which was acquired by the school close to 100 years ago, is not what it used to be, said Elizabeth Bennett, the music and theater department chair at New Trier.

The Winnetka campus’s Gaffney Auditorium, where the piano is located, is a large venue that “can really accommodate experiences that other auditoriums can’t,” Bennett said, and “Because of that … it does need a piano to match so that it can actually fill the hall. Because of that, it requires a full grand piano.”

As the Steinway ages and the more students use it, the more issues sprout up, requiring frequent maintenance. So, Bennett said, the decision was made to purchase a new grand piano.

When researching which piano would be most appropriate for New Trier, Bennett said she learned about Fazioli, a piano manufacturer from Italy. According to Bennett, other schools, including Lake Forest High School, have recently purchased Fazioli pianos.

From there, she was introduced to Thomas Zoells, the president of PianoForte Chicago.

“I made a trip downtown to where they have some of these instruments,” Bennett said. “Immediately, I hear the difference, I see the difference. It’s absolutely fabulous.”

Zoells said that Fazioli pianos are unique from other brands for multiple reasons, including each piano being personalized for each client.

“No one has ever put this much time and effort into making a piano,” he said. “Even if you look at the golden age of the piano (the 1910s and 1920s), they were done in a relative hurry compared to a Fazioli. It’s just that attention to every detail and customizing every piano to itself. Everything is fitted to the individual piano, not like in a series.”

Fazioli is also a relatively new manufacturer. While most piano makers have been around for centuries, Paolo Fazioli founded his company in 1981. Zoells added that Fazioli only makes about 150 pianos a year.

The Fazioli being prepared for New Trier is a new concert grand Model F308, which is described by Fazioli as the “absolute ‘jewel in the crown’ designed for modern large-capacity concert halls and very big spaces.”

The piano is also unique in that the inside is signed by both Paolo Fazioli and Grammy-winning jazz musician Herbie Hancock, who was born and raised in Chicago and reportedly only plays Fazioli pianos.

The Piano Legacy Campaign

In order to pay for the new grand piano, Bennett said a fundraiser, the Piano Legacy Campaign, was launched in October of last year.

The campaign is hoping to raise $249,000 by April 30.

“You can imagine that full grand pianos are a lot of money,” Bennett said. “But when you consider that they last 100 years, that’s why. They truly are the crux of an auditorium that provides experiences in music.”

“We want to get something that’s truly going to last and be a service to all of the students and the community at New Trier, and not just get something that’s quick and cheap,” she added. “We want it to be worthwhile. We want it to be a legacy for decades to come.”

As of early March, Bennett said about $80,000 has been raised so far.

To show potential donors where their money is going, Bennett said the New Trier community will actually have the rare opportunity to use the Fazioli on a trial basis.

And on the evening of April 9, there will be a public open house-style recital at the Gaffney Auditorium. Students, faculty and staff will sign up for the chance to play the piano during the open house.

Bennett said there will also be a private, invite-only reception for people who are interested in being potential major donors.

“We hope that being really transparent with how much we need will be helpful, because we know that there are people out there who are so incredibly supportive of the arts, that are supportive of New Trier and public education,” she said. “We truly believe there are someone, or several people, who will find it in their hearts and in their pockets to make a difference.”

As for the existing Steinway piano? Bennett said the plan is to trade it in to help lower the cost of the Fazioli. She said Zoells will take it and refurbish it for another person or organization to use.

For those interested in donating, Bennett said they can reach out to her (bennette@newtrier.k12.il.us) or Liz Mayer at the New Trier Educational Foundation (foundation@nths.net).

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