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Tuesday Fund-raiser at Elmo's Benefits DSA Piano Restoration

Grand pianos, donated by Duke, will give students a chance at concert-quality performance

When the Durham School of the Arts needed grand pianos to give music students a chance at concert-quality performances, the first step was for Duke to donate three used pianos to the school.  But now the pianos need restoration and tuning, and the school is turning to the community for assistance.

Elmo's Diner at 776th Ninth St. will host a fund-raiser Tuesday to aid a project to restore the three Steinway grand pianos donated by Duke to the Durham School of the Arts.

From 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, the restaurant will donate 10 percent of the day’s receipts to the DSA Foundation's Piano Restoration Fund.

The Steinways were given to the school, probably in the 1920s, but they are in disrepair and cannot be played.

If you're interested in helping the project without dining at Elmo's that day, tax-deductible donations may be made online at http://durhamschoolofthearts.org (Write "piano restoration" in the "special instructions" field) Or send a check to: Durham School of the Arts Foundation, (Attn: Piano Restoration), Durham School of the Arts, 400 N. Duke St., Durham, NC 27701.