The MSO's magnificent Hamburg Steinway concert grand piano is used for all performances in Overture Hall. The instrument was a gift to the MSO from Peter Livingston and Sharon Stark in memory of Peter's mother, Magdalena Friedman. Music Director John DeMain and the donors traveled to Hamburg, Germany, in March 2004 to select the new piano.

For 150 years, Steinway & Sons has been dedicated to the ideal of making the finest pianos in the world. And the Hamburg Steinway is considered the pinnacle of the company's artistic creativity, an unsurpassed medium between composer, performer and audience. The instrument is handcrafted entirely from hard rock maple, poplar, walnut and birch with a hand-rubbed lacquer finish. View technical specifications (PDF)

During a March 2004 trip to the Steinway factory in Hamburg, Germany, renowned German pianist Matthias Kirschnereit assisted Music Director John DeMain in selecting the perfect instrument. Piano contributors Peter Livingston and Sharon Stark, as well as Barbara DeMain, accompanied Maestro DeMain on the trip.