NEW
PIANO • Laura Bunting, Andrea Settle,
Margaret Thomson and Julie Neilson, left.
Commissioners, Robert Steele, Neil Cook, Val
Jones and Rocky Mountain Music owner, Hans
Braun, right show off the new $50,000 Piano
at the Fine Arts Auditorium.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The new August Forster Grand Piano, it's ebony finish
gleaming, made it's debut in Juab County on Monday, April
18, as local music teachers took turns playing the
instrument on the stage of the theater in the Juab County
Center.
Andrea Settle, Juab Fine Arts Council president,
attended Juab County Commission to invite commissioners to
attend a noon-hour presentation being held in the fine arts
theater.
Local piano teachers Margaret Thomson, Julie Neilson,
Laura Bunting, Rebecca Rumfield and Terry Menlove were
scheduled to perform on the instrument which had been given
center-stage showcase for the event.
"We have had a lot of people who have worked to bring
this piano to the community," said Settle. "This is a more
than $50,000 piano but the cost of the piano for Juab County
was $25,000."
Juab County, as part of the contribution pledged to
the Centennial Theater, agreed to donate funds to help cover
the cost of the instrument. The theater was selected as the
Utah Statehood commemoration project for the county and
funds were raised by the centennial committee. Other funds
were constructed by the county. All were placed in an
account to be used for restoration of the once Juab High
School Auditorium.
Since that time, the Juab Fine Arts Council took over
the restoration project and saw it to completion. Lights,
seats, a sound system, stage curtains have all been
installed.
The piano is a crowning glory of the effort.
"We are tickled that the piano has arrived," said Neil
Cook, commission chairman. "It is a tremendous asset to the
county."
The cost of the piano to the county was $29,347.65 and
the August Forster company of Germany made the additional
$4,347.65 donation needed to complete purchase of the
instrument.
Settle said that Hans Braun, Nephi, who arranged for
the sale of the piano and also picked it up and delivered it
to the county. In addition, Braun tuned the instrument and
is installing a humidifier to keep the piano in excellent
condition.
She said Braun will also maintain the humidifier and
do the necessary work to keep it functioning so the piano
will be protected from the dry air in Utah.
"The beautiful full leather piano bench, valued at
$790, was contributed by the importing company of German
American Trading. "The piano is valued at approximately
$50,000," said Braun. "The entire wholesale and retail
profit was waived. Also the transportation from Los Angeles
to Nephi was covered."
In addition, lifetime maintenance is being
donated.
"A lockable cover, casters and moving dolly, total
value of $600 was also contributed by Rocky Mountain Music
owned by Braun.
August Forster, of the Forster company, and Berthold
Neidhardt, of German American Trading, will receive thank
you notes for their contributions, said Settle.
In addition, the Fine Arts Council wanted the
commission to know how much the ten men, who each donated a
couple of hours of an evening, to transport the piano from
the truck onto the stage were appreciated..
The work was difficult and back-breaking but the men
made certain the piano arrived on stage safely and in
perfect condition.
The Fine Arts Council hopes to install some air
conditioning units in the future and is continuing to plan
events which showcase the theater.
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