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 The Hawaii Performing Arts Festival will once again showcase Steinway pianos provided by Sanders Piano of Honolulu during its fourth season starting in July. Classical artists from all over the world will gather in Waimea to study and perform in 15 concerts playing Steinway pianos, which will then be offered for sale to the public at special festival prices. Steinways rarely go on sale, but residents of the Big Island have the opportunity to acquire one at unusually low rates.
The “star” of the festival this season is a commemorative piano from Karl Lagerfeld, widely recognized as one of the most influential fashion designers of the late 20th century. Lagerfeld is associated with the Chanel name, and was the first serious designer of pant suits for women! To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Steinway & Sons, Lagerfeld designed a bold piano with dramatic, highly-polished red and black satin finishes, featuring an innovative design with rectangular music desk and legs.
Maybe a young Van Cliburn lives under your roof, or perhaps you relish the idea of lavish entertaining with a fine piano in your home. Maybe you yourself want to resume those piano studies that you defiantly abandoned at age 12, much to your parents’ disappointment.
One piano brand stands out as arguably the best…Steinway. History tells us that German piano maker Heinrich Steinweg, after losing most of his family in the Napoleonic Wars, emigrated in 1851 to New York City, where he founded Steinway & Sons. Through a tradition of fine craftsmanship and excellent marketing, the company thrives to this day.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt helped designed a Steinway that still resides in the White House. Perhaps you’ve seen the famous photo of Harry Truman playing it. The Smithsonian is home to historic Steinways. You can find the latest incarnation of Steinway craftsmanship at Bellagio in Las Vegas.
There’s even a Steinway dedicated to the best-selling piano recording of all time, 1955’s Roger Williams’ “Autumn Leaves”, the lyrics of which decorate the piano’s perimeter. Special Steinways have been designed to celebrate Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin. There’s even a Steinway designed to replicate the design of a Chris-Craft speedboat!
Once you have decided on a Steinway piano, you still have many choices. Interested in a particular decorating style? Choose from Beaux Arts, Louis XV-style,
Chippendale or Arts and Crafts, even contemporary designer Dakota Jackson. Exotics woods abound, such as rosewood from India and Belize, bubinga from West Africa, and pertinent to homeowners in Hawaii, koa wood, which metamorphizes into grand pianos after having been harvested 50 years ago from forests on the Big Island.
So, what’s one good reason to attend a concert at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival this summer? To see and hear the Karl Lagerfeld 150th anniversary piano offered by Sanders Piano, which will be displayed and utilized during concerts at Davies Chapel at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea on July 10, 11, 12, 22, and 26. On Sunday July 27 the Karl Lagerfeld grand will be featured in a special performance by international competition winner Angela Cholakyan, and “Pianothon”, featuring ten students of Honolulu piano phenomenon Ellen Masaki performing on five grand pianos at the Waters Edge Ballroom at the Hilton Waikoloa. Tickets are $25 at the door. On Monday July 28 Sanders Piano will hold its special piano event to find homes for the pianos used during the festival. The public is invited to call Sanders Piano at 1-800-704-0441 for an appointment or visit the Waters Edge Ballroom from 10 am to 7 pm on July 28.
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