Friday, May 5, is the kick-off for the third annual grand unveiling of the Come Tickle Our Ivories Project by the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra. The project involves decorated pianos displayed at various storefronts downtown and remain throughout the years, available for passersby to play a quick tune.
Each piano in the project has been decorated by various high school art students in Rowan County. Additionally, one piano in the project has been decorated by Catawba College. Two Catawba College students, Casey Eller, a History Education major, and Veronica Leasure, an Integrated Marketing Communications major, took the lead in decorating the piano that had belonged to Duard and Betty Cress. The decorating project was overseen by Catawba Professors Christopher Zink and Ashley Pierce-Love.
The theme for decorating the Catawba piano was “live life in full bloom.” Eller and Leasure shared that they chose this theme because Catawba is one of the leading colleges in the state for its environmental program. Another reasons, they noted “is because as a college, all students are encouraged to live life to the fullest and reach their upmost potential.” They used geometric flower petals and the abstract sunflower stalks to show “a well-rounded design which represents a full, well-rounded life.”
Caleb S. Garner, ’17, a B.F.A. Theatre Design and B.A. Theatre Education major will be playing the piano decorated by Catawba College. Garner was approached by Catawba Theatre Arts Professor Chris Zink several weeks ago to play for the unveiling of the piano on May 5th.
Alongside Garner, Where are the Diamonds, Catawba’s Improv comedy team, will be performing Musical Improv as Garner accompanies them. Where are the Diamonds is under the direction of Chaz Cable, ’18, and consists of members Jameson Clanton, ’20, Alex Donato, ’18, George Glass, ’17, Anna Kate Hall, ’18, Charles Karvon, ’19, Zac Karvon, ’20, Duane Leatherberry, Jr, ’18, Sammy Myers, ’17, Mia Schuster, ’19, and B’Jion Wright, ’18. Garner is also a member of the team.
Enjoy piano music, Improv, local food, craft beer and shopping at Downtown restaurants and stores during the event slated from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on May 5th.
