Piano Restoration
Mar 9, 2025 Updated Mar 10, 2025
Standing with the 60-year-old Steinway piano are, from left, school board member Cecilia Driscoll, CAHS music educator Michelle Harbaugh and school board member Dave Martray.
Connellsville Area School Board members Dave Martray and Cecilia Driscoll are asking for the community’s help in raising money for the restoration of a more than 60-year-old Steinway piano that has been used by many high school musicians over the years.
“Steinway is the best,” said Michelle Harbaugh, high school music educator and director of the high school musicals.
At a recent school board meeting, members agreed to the restoration work, estimated to cost about $70,000. Funds for the restoration, however, will have to come from donations and grants.
Driscoll and Martray are working with multiple sources seeking grant funding and they are making a plea to the public to help with the restoration costs.
Driscoll said they are in a time crunch. She said $15,000 is needed by March 21. The remainder of the funding can be raised over the next five months.
Martray said he was originally told the piano had been donated. He has since discovered it was purchased after a fire at the auditorium in 1967 in what is now Connellsville Area Middle School and had been the high school.
He said from what he has read the piano was purchased for $2,500 using insurance money. He said today, this same piano, would cost nearly $140,000.
The fire happened in March, Martray said with the board deciding to purchase the Steinway Concert Grand B piano in May.
It was put into use for the first time at a December 1967 concert.
The restoration of the piano, which is still used by music students, will include both external and interior work, Martray said.
School officials said the piano in its current condition has a value of about $20,000. Steinway and Sons has estimated the value of the piano after its restoration to be $120,000.
Martray said anyone interested in making a donation online can go to the district website at casdfalcons.org and a link will be shown on the front page.
Harbaugh said many former students have contacted her about supporting the cause.
Harbaugh said there is a long list of musicians that have used the Steinway that sits in the music room at the high school.
Area music educators who are district graduates having used the Steinway include but not limited to:
Justin Gillott, 26 years of experience as a music educator in the Yough School District.
Joel Hudock, 32 years as a musical educator at Uniontown School District, 14 years as a high school band director and now as elementary and middle school band and chorus for the past 14 years.
Michael Rozell, choral and music educator at Belle Vernon High School for 32 years and director of their Broadway musicals for 25 years. He now serves as executive director of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra.
Sandy Costello Vargo, choral music educator at Laurel Highlands High School for 15 years and director of the high school musicals.
Michele Costello Zamperini, music educator at Southmoreland School District.
“In just music teachers, there’s a lot who have used the Steinway,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh said the piano’s interior is in need of a restoration.
“If you listen, the notes are sustaining past where they should be sustaining,” she said. “You can tell there is something that needs fixed in there.”
Driscoll said the district has not put a lot of money into the piano over the past six decades.
“Now, it needs a little TLC,” she said. “This is really a special piano.”
“We will take anything. No donation is too small,” Driscoll said.
Donations can be sent to the Connellsville Area School District, 732 Rock Ridge Road, Connellsville, 15425, to the attention of the business office. On the memo line, specify it is for the piano restoration project. Checks should be payable to the school district.
For questions, contact Driscoll or Martray by email. Their emails can be found on the district’s website.
Martray said questions can also be directed to the district’s business office.