Simply Piano 2 - A Perfect Pair

Simply Piano returns for the second year with some of the pianists featured at the first event in 2008 and some new faces as well as pairings of musicians and pianists.

Pianists Mark Gearan, Meg Heaton, Ella Cripps, George Abraham, Troy Slocum, Hilda Collins, and Steve Venuti will play the Smith’s Steinway Grand Concert D piano. They will be paired with musicians Kenneth Meyer, guitar; James Kikkert, tenor; David Lane, violin; Wendra Trowbridge, soprano; Anthony Calabrese, marimba; Patrisha Blue, vocalist; Eliza Heaton, cello; Angela Calabrese, soprano; and Tony Joseph, clarinet.

All seats are $25. Tickets are available at the Smith Opera House, by calling 315-781-LIVE (5483) or toll-free 1-866-355-LIVE (5483)The Smith accepts MasterCard, Visa and Discover. Box office hours are weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Serving as the master of ceremonies will be Michael Rusinko, a Smith director. All of the proceeds from the event will go toward programs at The Smith and arts education.

After the performance, Wendy Marsh, Board Chair, will make an exciting announcement about the future direction of The Smith Opera House and arts development in Geneva and the Finger Lakes. “The stage is set,” Marsh said, urging people to come and enjoy the piano event and learn about the “new day” ahead for the arts.

A dessert and champagne reception will follow the program.

During the last couple of months, the Steinway piano has undergone extensive restoration work by Steinway-trained technicians from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Ithaca College. Simply Piano 2 - "A Perfect Pair" will be the first opportunity for patrons to hear the fully restored Steinway in a concert setting. 

In the early years of The Smith's restoration, local philanthropist Mary Lienk decided The Smith Opera House needed its own piano so artists of all ages and levels of proficiency could play, so she offered to donate one. A small group of knowledgeable, interested volunteers agreed to advise her on the selection.

After considering several options, the piano group visited the Steinway & Sons' showroom in New York City to select the Model D nine-foot concert grand. The piano made its debut on Nov. 18, 1995, with an introductory concert featuring some of the same performers who will be performing at Simply Piano.

In addition to numerous students, accompanists and local celebrities, many national and international artists have played the Smith piano, including Leon Bates, Jim Brickman, Simone Dinnerstein, Francis Heilbut, Billy Joel, Paavali Jumppanen, Olga Kern, Natalie Merchant, Jon Nakamatsu, Albert Sassman, Siiri Schultz and Roger Steptoe.

$25