Fundraising Project: Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale Piano for Chandor Gardens

1979 chippendale steinway chandor 2024 w

After much searching, for just the right piano, we are now the proud owners of an exquisite 1979 Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale style walnut piano, just like Ina Chandor's piano.

This elegant piano arrived at Chandor Gardens on Feb 1, 2024, and now has a permenant home in the Great Room.

Project Details:

Historic Relevance to Chandor Gardens:

Ina Chandor was an accomplished classical pianist. She had a degree in Music from Texas Female Seminary and Conservatory of Music, Weatherford, TX. She took private lessons in classical music from Professor Harold von Mickwitz. Professor Mickwitz was Dean of Music at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, as well as a piano teacher at the Institute of Musical Art (Juilliard), New York.
Ina also met Eddy Duchin the distinguished American jazz pianist and bandleader of the 1930's and 1940's, known for his graceful and clever way of playing the piano referred to as the "Duchin style". Ina studied piano with Eddy Duchin for a bit.

The Chandor's had a Steinway & Sons Chippendale Model M piano that sat in the studio/great room, and Ina often entertained guests and those sitting for portraits.

The Chandor Steinway piano was sold at the Chandor Estate Sale in 1984 for $9,950.

The identity of the purchaser and where the piano went after the sale is unknown.

Current Relevance to Chandor Gardens:

The Foundation has purchased a similar Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale style walnut piano as what Ina once had, permanently located in the studio/great room, which returned the room to more closely resemble its original look and feel from when the Chandor's lived in the home.

This piano will not be a static display piece as it is a functional concert performance quality piano, which will allow the Foundation to offer a broader range of music enrichment programs to the public including; performance opportunities for emerging artists, children’s music education classes i.e in partnership with The Cliburn, and other musical ensembles.

Project Budget & Fundraising Progress:

The fundraising goal for this project was $45,000 which included; the 1979 Steinway & Sons Model M Chippendale piano, matching Chippendale piano bench, spider dolly, as well as delivery and set up at Chandor Gardens.

We are pleased to announce that we achieved our fundraising goal, and that we were able to pay off the bank loan for the piano on June 5, 2024.

Thank you so much to; all those who personally donated to this fundraising project, Parker County Historical Society for a $5,000 grant, Weatherford College sponsored concert by Dr Song & Mr Sanders, and the two very successfull Secret Gardens of Parker County Tours put on by the Friends of Chandor Gardens members.

donation thermometer steinway piano success

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