A 54-year-old Steinway concert grand piano at Merced College is ready for a new era of music after a donor-funded restoration brought the instrument back to like-new condition.
The 9-foot Steinway grand—built in 1972 and used for decades in performances at the Merced College Theater—recently returned to campus following an extensive $46,000 renovation funded by husband and wife Grey Roberts and Bette Woolstenhulme, both Merced College alumni and longtime supporters.
“This is the kind of gift that will have an impact for generations of Merced College students and for the entire community,” Merced College President Chris Vitelli said. “Grey and Bette’s connection to Merced College goes back decades, and we are grateful that their generosity has preserved such a valuable part of our college while giving our students an exceptional instrument to learn and perform on.”
For Professor of Music John Albano, the restoration fulfills a goal more than a decade in the making. The piano had been in regular use for concerts and rehearsals, but years of wear had taken a toll on its appearance, sound and mechanical action.
The opportunity emerged during a conversation between Albano and Grey Roberts about ways he and Bette could support the college.
“I had mentioned to Grey we were interested in restoring our beautiful Steinway concert grand piano,” Albano said. “He told me to give him a call and see what we could do, and that’s really how it started.”
The project also had a personal connection for Grey and Bette. After retiring as a school principal, Bette returned to Merced College intending to take a computer class. When the class was full, she enrolled in piano instead, rekindling an interest that eventually led her to continue with private lessons.
The restoration was coordinated by piano technician Ted Kidwell in the Sacramento area and included extensive work inside and out. The piano’s mechanical action was replaced, its strings and soundboard were restored, and the exterior case was refinished in Southern California. New Steinway legs and heavy-duty casters were also added, eliminating the need for the large rolling platform previously used to move the instrument on and off stage.
The transformation was dramatic.
“The action wasn’t ideal anymore for serious piano playing, and a lot of the mechanics inside needed to be replaced,” Albano said. “Now we feel like we have a new Steinway grand piano.”
A comparable new Steinway Model D concert grand currently lists for nearly $250,000, making the $46,000 restoration a significant investment in preserving an instrument the district already owned.
The restored instrument will continue to be used for Merced College music instruction, rehearsals and performances. The college also plans to showcase the Steinway with a free community concert this spring, giving local audiences an opportunity to hear the restored instrument at its best.
With music already a meaningful part of their lives, Grey and Bette saw the restoration as a tangible way to support the arts while benefiting more than just the college.
“I’m really happy we could do it,” Grey Roberts said. “It’s something the whole community can enjoy.”
