Keep UI piano restoration in Iowa

I recently saw a television report about the Steinway piano from Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa that was damaged by leaking water. It was apparently a favorite instrument of music majors and guest artists.

The officials in Iowa City feel that the only solution to salvaging this instrument is to send it out of state to have it restored. As a registered piano technician in Iowa for more than 30 years, I know of at least a half dozen piano restoration facilities that could restore this instrument using Steinway parts. After all, this is a state school that wants to spend $50,000 of the taxpayers' money to get it restored, and I feel they should keep the business in Iowa. The cost would probably be less and the work would be first class. I know of cases where other prestigious universities have sent their Steinways to Iowa to have them restored.

The two Steinway franchise dealers in Iowa both keep Steinway trained technicians on their staff, but have no restoration facilities. I'm sure these institutions could work together to find a suitable Iowa venue to have this piano professionally restored.

Dan Malloy

Hiawatha