DATE: Tuesday, March 18, 1997               TAG: 9703180477

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 

DATELINE: COROLLA                           LENGTH:   33 lines

5 TO PERFORM ON WHALEHEAD CLUB'S OLD PIANO AT SUNDAY EVENT

The recently restored Steinway grand piano from the historic Whalehead hunting club will be featured Sunday in a concert at 3 p.m. at the Currituck County Satellite Center in Corolla.

The piano, custom built in 1903, was a centerpiece of gala entertainments at the club in the days when wealthy hunters came to Currituck from the North to shoot ducks and geese by the dozens.

It fell into disrepair along with the club over the decades, but was brought back to life for $20,000 provided by the Corolla Business Association.

Now the piano is kept in the satellite office as restoration continues at the Whalehead Club, and the concert Sunday marks only the second time it has been played in public.

Five players will perform on the piano Sunday.

Jerry Stott, organist at Duck United Methodist Church who headed the project to restore the piano, will play selections from Bach, Beethoven and Cole Porter.

Fred Yacano, retired concert pianist who now lives in Poplar Branch, will play two of his original works. Ruth Ambrose, pianist at Pilmore United Methodist Church, and Lisa Rose, a teacher at Central Elementary School in Currituck, will play classical choices including Mozart and selections from Greece.

A 12-year-old artist, James Garner of Shawboro, will provide a modern touch with his favorite Disney selections on the 94-year-old piano.

The concert is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome. For additional information, call 919-232-2311.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu