Pikesville Music Boosters Make Play for Piano

The Pikesville Music Boosters are hoping to hit the right notes that will help them raise $10,000 to purchase a baby grand piano for Pikesville High School, possibly by the end of the school year.

Ruth Grossman and Tracy Lavin are co-presidents of the Pikesville Music Boosters, and they said the group is discussing various fundraising activities designed to reach this goal.

They’ll need the money to both purchase the piano and move it to the school.

Lavin said that Pikesville does have a grand piano, but it was donated to the school many years ago and is fading fast.

Simply put, they’re not sure how many notes remain, so the Boosters are trying to bring in something new for Russell Gartner, who is the school's choral music director, and also believes the new piano would be a plus for the Pikesville students.

“A high-quality, well-maintained instrument is essential to rehearsal and performance and the sound of a concert grand is unparalleled for classical music, both choral and instrument[al],” Gartner said. “We want to make sure that we get an instrument that will fit the needs of a music program as it grows and matures in years to come.”  

The Music Boosters plans a number of different fundraisers—some that may not have much to do with music—in order to bring in the needed money. It's not required that the group raise all of the money by the end of the school year, but the music boosters feel that would be a positive.

“This is our job,” Grossman said. “This is the Music Boosters’ job. It’s going to be wonderful because the choir has come such a long way under [Mr. Gartner].”

For those interested in helping out in the fundraising effort, email the club at pikesvillemusicboosters@gmail.com, or find the it on Facebook.