I had a love affair with a piano. A great big piano.

For 11 fascinating years, I was the executive director of the award-winning, historic Struthers Library Theatre here in Warren. One of my best takeaways is how much I learned on that terrific job. And I got to know our piano – a splendid Steinway Concert Grand piano.

Steinway has always been the gold standard for American pianos, and many are used around the world.

Now a concert grand isn’t your everyday grand piano. A standard grand piano is about six feet long, give or take a few inches. The theater’s concert grand is just shy of nine feet long. That big boy was built in 1952 and purchased for $4,500. Today, the selling price for a new concert grand is about $150,000, depending on the model. Inflation hasn’t just affected eggs, cars, and college tuitions!

The theater’s piano lives in a custom-built garage on stage left. Tucked back in the corner, its side doors open to roll it onto center stage. For performances, the piano is placed in the exact spot where it will be played. There are two reasons for this. Almost always, the headliner who will play it sends a sketch of exactly where the piano should be placed and at what angle to the audience. Secondly, the piano is not tuned until it is in its final position. I was surprised to learn that pianos are not moved once tuned.

Arlo Guthrie and his folk band arrived on a Saturday afternoon. Their technical crew worked on lighting and sound checks for an hour or two to reach the level of perfection required for the performance. In Arlo’s case, he didn’t remain on his comfy bus while this took place. He entered through the stage door, eager to check out his evening’s instrument.

I introduced myself and welcomed him to Warren. He was very well mannered – a sweet guy. I offered him some snacks, then said, “Let me show you to our star dressing room.” Smiling, he shook his head. He pointed to the concert grand and said, “I have someone else I need to meet first.”

He stepped to the piano and, still standing, leaned over the piano bench to play a rich chord. The piano’s brilliant response filled the stage and the theater’s natural acoustics. Arlo grinned and said, “Whoa! I think I’m in love!” He took off his hat, laid it on the piano, and pulled out the bench. Still in his outdoor jacket, he sat and played for 10 or 15 minutes. “This is wonderful. Thank you,” he said.

I was already enraptured by his talent. Oh, and he liked the dressing room too!

The entire evening was terrific. And it made me realize how critical the quality and the maintenance of our special Steinway is to our celebrity performances.

The Steinway is not used at every concert. Many of the country or soft rock groups use electronic keyboards – not our Steinway. But John Tesh did.

John is a world-renowned pianist and composer who had an Emmy winning career in radio and television before he concentrated on his music. His gold records are the product of his musicianship – and his exacting standards. When he arrived backstage, I got the feeling that he wasn’t expecting much from our old, smalltown venue. But his introduction was much like Arlo’s. He walked onstage, pulled the bench out to his specific distance, and seated himself. Only then did he strike one brief chord, let out a delighted “Oh-h-h-h!” and lapsed instantly into a complicated arrangement from the evening’s song list. What a gift he had!

He was captivated with our prize instrument. He walked around the piano, peering at its exposed hammers and strings while running his hand across the polished frame. “Always take good care of her,” he said to me. I assured him that we worked at it. That night, they made beautiful music together. A night to remember.

Those special nights sparkle in my memory still today.

This winter I’ll have to find my Arlo and John Tesh CDs for the recliner nights ahead. They will remind me of learning about and listening to our big beautiful concert grand – in their capable hands.

Some love affairs last forever.

Marcy O’Brien writes from Warren.