Live from New York—and College Park

April 29, 2024 School of Music | Piano | College of Arts and Humanities

An image of a spirio piano playing on stage, next to a livestreamed video of a student performing in New York City

Guests at UMD see high-tech piano play music students’ performance 200+ miles away

The rhythmic, driving melody of composer Heitor Villa-Lobos’ “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4” filled a Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center hall with its expansive sound. But the piano at the center of the stage—the source of the Amazonian-inspired music—was empty.

On Sunday, a group of School of Music students made University of Maryland history as the first Terps to play the high-tech Steinway Spirio, the ultimate player piano. As the nine students performed at Steinway Hall in New York City, a Spirio piano in the Gildenhorn Recital Hall faithfully reproduced every keystroke and pedal depression for an audience in College Park.

Read the full article in Maryland Today.