You could call it a grand donation.
Before even opening its doors, the new Performing Arts Center at Maricopa High School has received a generous gift. The state-of-the-art building will be home to a piece of American history through the donation of a Chickering grand piano builit in the late 1800s.
The antique piano was donated by former Maricopa residents Joan and Devon Walker, who recently moved back to their home state of Alaska.
“We wanted to make sure the piano was used and cared for,” Devon said. “We thought the arts program would be ideal and we knew they could use it.”
Founded in Boston in 1823, Chickering and Sons was considered the premier manufacturer of pianos in the United States before the prominence of the well-known Steinway and Sons company. The value of the piano is listed at $20,000, but Devon said appraisals for a Chickering like the one they donated can be easily as high as $60,000.
Devon said it was restored awhile back and the couple has meticulously cared for it through the years. They decided to give it to an arts program rather than transport it back to Alaska.
To help them find a deserving benefaciary, the Walkers contacted Diane Morrow, office manager for the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce, and asked her whether she knew of an entity or a person who could care for and use the piano.
Morrow replied she had someone in mind and immediately contacted Carrie Vargas, a fellow church member and founder of the Maricopa Community Theatre. Vargas, in turn, thought of the new Performing Arts Center.
“It’s going to be in such a beautiful place. How can you not put it there?” Vargas said. “I was amazed to have someone be so generous and knew the district had nothing of this magnitude.”
Vargas contacted Maricopa Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Kleck, who expedited arrangements to store the piano at the new facilities maintenance and operations building near the high school.MHS Music Director Ivan Pour was also notified about the piano. Pour was equally amazed and said the department was looking forward to the responsibility of maintaining it.
“With a dedicated space for it, it will be cared for and, for maybe a few exceptions, only adults will use it,” Pour said. “This is a performance piano, not something for practice.”
Access to the piano would be limited to student pianists who exhibit “responsibility and discipline,” he said.
“The piano distinguishes them,” Pour said. “It’s the whole structure of western music and the players can transfer their knowledge to any instrument.”
Pour’s biggest concern is keeping the piano in a climate-controlled environment with the proper humidity so the wood doesn’t dry out. He said the new building would have the conditions needed to properly maintain it, but he was going to research the “idiosyncrasies” of the piano to prevent warping, aging or strings going out of tune.
Besides being an “elegant touch” to the new building, Vargas sees the piano bringing high-caliber performers for concerts.
“It would say a lot for the community and give us something we haven’t had,” she said. “We can have professional concerts and quality performances.”
