Duke’s Annual Piano Sale Is July 28 to 31
Play the keys on a selection of new and used pianos in the Freeman Center for Jewish Life
Ever dream of becoming a piano virtuoso? First, it may be worth investing in an instrument.
Try out dozens of pianos – from grand to digital – at Duke’s annual piano sale July 28 through 31 in the Freeman Center for Jewish Life. A Steinway self-playing piano and Steinway grand piano with an East Indian rosewood finish will be part of the display.
The sale will feature new grand and vertical Steinway, Boston and Essex pianos, as well as Roland digital pianos, self-playing pianos and used pianos. All instruments will be sold at discount prices to Duke community members and come with technical support from Hopper Piano & Organ Company in Raleigh.
Hopper Piano & Organ Company partners with Duke to supply and replace pianos at different Duke University and Health System locations, to include residence halls, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, the Department of Music and Duke Cancer Center.
“It’s thrilling to see so many instruments of every size and every kind, everything from portable electric instruments to baby grand pianos,” said Scott Lindroth, Duke vice provost for the arts. “There’s an instrument at just about every price level, and it’s a marvelous opportunity.”
Rodney Wynkoop, director of university choral music at Duke, attended the sale in 2013 to look for a piano that would fit in his new, smaller home and fit his budget. There were about 100 instruments at the sale, and he settled on an upright piano for less than $500.
“You can sit down and play them,” Wynkoop said about the pianos at the Freeman Center. “I will sometimes have rehearsals with soloists or auditions at my house. I’m not a great pianist or anything, but I typically play my piano just enough to check how a piece of music sounds.”
The sale is open to the public on July 31 from noon until 5 p.m. at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life. A private appointment can be arranged for July 28 to 31 by calling (919) 613-4565.
For Duke community members wanting to learn how to play the piano, the Duke Department of Music maintains a local list of piano teachers that work with children and adults. Call the Department of Music’s main office at (919) 660-3300.