Our concert venue
Our venue is the historic First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, at 21st and Walnut Streets. The church sanctuary features its newly renovated, historic Steinway piano. This 109-year old instrument has been played by eminent pianists in its long and distinguished history, and bears an inscription from one of the premier pianists of the turn of the 20th century, Ignaz Paderewski. The inscription reads "This piano is a marvel – I. J. Paderewski December 30 1897".
The piano was restored in 2003 by Tim Farley of Madison, Wisconsin, for the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. Mr. Farley took pains to maintain the historical character and authentic sound of the piano. Audience members will delight in hearing a world-class instrument echoing the sound-waves of music from over a century ago in "excellent resonance" and "lush richness", to quote two reviewers of the first concert performed on the piano after its restoration, in Madison. The concert pianist was Claude Frank, who has appeared repeatedly with the best orchestras in the world after his 1959 debut with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein.