The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Teens piloting piano purchase project
Seniors want to buy a new piano for the school and fix the old one
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2007
Two Milan High School seniors are making sure that when they graduate in a few months, they leave behind more than memories and a quote in the high school yearbook.
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Adam Irish and Carolynn Steenbeke are both seniors and members of the Milan choral program, which is under the direction of teacher Shayla Powell. For years, one of the difficulties faced by the program has been the lack of a high-quality grand piano to accompany the students during practice and performances.
If everything goes according to plan for Irish and Steenbeke, that won't be a problem for Milan in the future. The seniors have helped arrange for the purchase of one piano and the refurbishment of another, and have kick-started a sponsorship project to pay for the expenses.
"We're graduating," Steenbeke said, "but we want to do something so future students would benefit."
Irish and Steenbeke are looking for 88 sponsors, one sponsor for each of the 88 keys on the new piano. At $380 per key, the project would raise enough funds to pay for the pianos, which will be purchased from King's Keyboard in Ann Arbor. The project also will collect donations at a choir concert to be held in the spring.
Each sponsor of a key will have his or her name engraved onto a small plaque. The plaques will be affixed to an old piano top, which will be hung and displayed at the school.
The project has become necessary, Irish and Steenbeke said, because of the condition of the choir program's current pianos.
"The one we've been using is very out of tune," Steenbeke said. "There are some mechanical issues."
"We have another one," Irish added, "but it's beyond the point of repair. It has to be gutted."
The new pianos, the seniors said, will make a noticeable difference.
"A new one would help us stay on tune better," Steenbeke said, adding that the theater program could benefit from the piano as well as the choir program.
"It will make our presentation so much better," Irish said.
The project began as part of the pair's senior proposal for government class. Irish came up with the idea. Although their senior proposal wasn't required to be put into action –– and neither will be in school long enough to actually perform with the pianos –– the pair wanted to do something important for the program they were leaving behind.
"This is something we just wanted to do," Irish said. "We've gotten a lot of enthusiasm for the idea."
That support has come from places like the Milan Area Chamber of Commerce and Milan Board of Education –– the sort of support that the pair knew would be needed if it was actually going to become reality.
"It has been stressful," Steenbeke said. "But it's been fun, too. Everybody's for it."
For more information or to contact Irish and Steenbeke about a possible donation or sponsorship, call 439-7685 or e-mail buyakey2007@yahoo.com.
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