{"id":123361,"date":"2026-04-14T15:06:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=123361"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:06:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:06:36","slug":"preview-cathedral-bluffs-symphony-orchestra-celebrates-return-piano-open-house-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/04\/14\/preview-cathedral-bluffs-symphony-orchestra-celebrates-return-piano-open-house-concert\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra Celebrates The Return Of A Piano With Open House & Concert"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Concert
Concert grand piano keyboard (Public domain archive\/Pixabay\/CCO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the return home of a newly refurbished antique Steinway with a Piano Party concert on April 18. Earlier in the day, the orchestra will host a free Open House & Instrument Discovery event, with a live lobby performance by The Canadian Chinese Orchestra, and an open rehearsal where audiences can get a taste of the evening\u2019s concert.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe open the doors at 3, and there\u2019s instrument petting zoos from Remenyi and Long & McQuade,\u201d explains CBSO Music Director Martin MacDonald.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The open rehearsal offers a behind the scene look at how an orchestra prepares for performance, including excerpts from the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to make something a little more family oriented,\u201d he says. \u201c8 p.m. can be late for younger kids.\u201d As he points out, even the younger set can get a taste of the concert, and also see younger musicians perform on stage. The rehearsal, and concert, includes performances by the winners of concerto competitions of the North York Music Festival, and the CCC Toronto International Music Festival.<\/p>\n

The Clifford Poole Concert Grand Piano<\/h3>\n

The Piano Party concert marks the return of a venerable Steinway that once belonged to the founder and first Music Director of the orchestra.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur piano is called our Clifford Poole,\u201d MacDonald explains. \u201cIt\u2019s named after the founding Music Director of the orchestra.\u201d On his retirement, Poole donated the Steinway grand to CSBO. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful old Steinway from 1930 I believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

After nearly a century, though, the beloved instrument was in need of some care. \u201cIt\u2019s shown its age through the years,\u201d Martin says. While some minor repairs had been done over the years, it was time for a full restoration.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the namesake of our founding Music Director. We opted to having it fully refurbished,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s been a restoration fund at the CSBO for the piano for quite some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The accumulated funds, however, weren\u2019t sufficient for all the Steinway required. The remaining funds came from a charitable foundation, one with an emphasis on supporting children\u2019s education and community groups. The connection came via a 2024 concert that the orchestra presented with special guests Sultans of String<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of their values is their commitment to Reconciliation,\u201d MacDonald notes. The foundation was taken with the show, and the Sultans of String\u2019s dedication to the inclusion of Indigenous artists and voices.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey provided a very healthy donation to the orchestra.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a result, the piano was packed and shipped to Europe to receive its refurbishment at the hands of seasoned crafts people.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe piano has now arrived back in Toronto,\u201d Martin says. It will take up its new home at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, where CSBO holds its concerts and events. \u201cBecause the hall doesn\u2019t have its own resident instrument, this allows us to share the piano with the CCC.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is a potential for rentals, and sharing the instrument with other organizers and events.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s now a beautiful Steinway available for use.\u201d<\/p>\n

The piano\u2019s first stop in Canada was Montreal, then Toronto to the Remenyi House of Music, where the final touches, including tuning, will be performed.<\/p>\n

\u201cA huge thanks we give to Michael Remenyi and the Remenyi House of Music,\u201d Martin says. Michael Remenyi, as it turns out, plays in the orchestra\u2019s cello section. He facilitated the complicated shipping process for the instrument, as well as coordinating those last adjustments.<\/p>\n

While the mission was a success, it was not without its unforeseen moments. Travel by ship over international waters offers its own set of variables. The piano concert had originally been planned for earlier in the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to wait,\u201d MacDonald says. \u201cIt\u2019s coming back a little later than we expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The
The Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra (Photo: Allan Cabral)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Concert<\/h3>\n

In keeping with the spirit of the organization, which has partnered with local student music festivals for years, as well as the goals of the funding foundation, the concert features young artists who were winners of the 2025 North York Music Festival, and the Toronto International Music Festival, which is organized by the Chinese Cultural Centre. MacDonald adjudicates at the North York Music Festival.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to make sure that when we brought it back, we wanted to have young artists to play on it for its return.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Program<\/strong><\/p>\n

The concert program features music with a focus on the return of spring.<\/p>\n

It includes:<\/p>\n