Funding for the piano was provided by a generous gift from Walter G. Hall, a Shepherd Society board member, in response to a plea from Dean Michael Hammond that the school not miss the opportunity to add the magnificent instrument to its collection. 8 p.m. Maestro Christoph Eschenbach will play piano. Robert Glazebrook, who was then director of Steinway Hall in London, assisted in the selection and preparation of this instrument in 1984. All three instruments are frequently sought after for commercial recording by some of the country's leading pianists. Volodyia has undergone some minor restoration since coming to the Shepherd School, including new strings and new hammers.
Shank notes that changing the hammer heads on a piano is as routine as changing the tires on a car.
However, when it came time for him to replace the hammers on Volodyia, some of his piano faculty colleagues became nervous. Fortunately, Steinway supplied a truly superior set of new hammer heads that preserve the magnificent sound. And when it comes time to work on Volodyia, Shank will most likely have an ample supply of patience, nerve and anything else he needs.