Pianos, pianos, pianos

Maxine R. Schiffman (seated), who donated a $2 million gift to buy 68 Steinway & Sons pianos for the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music, attended a New York Philharmonic concert in Central Park. Chinese pianist Lang Lang, who took part in the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics last Friday, performed on the red Steinway piano. Also in the group were Rick Grant, president of Jordan Kitts Music; Rex Whiddon, director of major gifts, CSU; Lang Lang, Ken Saliba, vice president of institutional sales, Jordan Kitts Music; Mary Beth Schiffman; pianist Betty Anne Diaz; Byron Brown, institutional sales director, Steinway Piano Gallery, Atlanta; and Fred Cohen, director of the Schwob School of Music.

Yesterday, Fred Cohen, director of the Schwob School of Music, walked me onto the stage of the Bill Heard Theatre.

I know my mouth dropped open.

On the stage were the 67 Steinway & Sons pianos. Actually, there were 66. The new concert grand is still being built in Hamburg, Germany, and will be shipped sometime next month.

There are 43 upright pianos and 24 grands.

I learned something new. The grand pianos are marked by their lengths. There are the D grands or the concert grand pianos that are 9-feet long. The B is 7-feet long; the A is 6-feet-2-inches long; the O is 5-feet-10 inches long and the M is 5-feet-7-inches long.

While of these instruments sound wonderful, the longer the strings, the richer the sound.

These are not only wonderful instruments to play, they are great investments for the school.

Byron Brown, institutional sales director, in Atlanta's Steinway Piano Gallery, says if a piano is taken care of very well, it can go up in value. Some years ago, an upright sold for $1,200 is now worth $5,000-$6,000.

Imagine how much 43 uprights will be worth in 15 years!

This gift is due to the Maxine R. and Jack S. Schiffman Family Foundation. Mrs. Schiffman was in the Heard Theatre today and she was smiling the whole time.

Betty Anne Díaz, who retired as the professor of piano earlier this year, is just happy to see all the pianos. She'll be performing at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 in Legacy Hall during "An Evening with the Schumanns." Betty Anne will be accompanying professor of voice Michelle DeBruyn. The concert is free. 706-649-1986.