Musicians Stage Georgia Theatre Benefit

The Athens music community is pulling together to help employees of the Georgia Theatre, left without a job in the wake of a massive blaze that gutted the historic venue last Friday. Today, state and local investigators began their work at the scene trying to determine a cause.

Tomorrow night, three bands will play a benefit concert in Athens, with proceeds going to displaced workers of the Theatre. Julian Dorio is the drummer with The Whigs, the Athens-based band headlining the event:

"Everyone understands what this means and the sacrifice for us to go down the street and play a show is nothing compared to what’s happened to the Georgia Theatre staff."

The show is being held at the Melting Point in Athens tomorrow night. 10-dollar tickets can be bought either at the door, or online through georgiatheathre.com. The Melting Point will also accept cash donations for a Georgia Theatre fund.

Live orchestra returns to Atlanta ballet

The longest continually-running ballet company in the country is getting its live orchestra back. The Atlanta Ballet has had recorded music for the last two years to save money. Three trustees have donated a $200,000 gift to pay for the orchestra, and $50,000 to sponsor a conductor. The Atlanta Ballet was founded in 1929. Its season opens Oct. 23 with Swan Lake.

Multi-million dollar donation to CSU music school

Sixty-eight Steinway pianos onstage, as seen from the balcony of the Bill Heard Auditorium of the Columbus RiverCenter For The Performing Arts. (Dave Bender)

A single multi-million dollar donation to Columbus State University in southwest Georgia has allowed Columbus's Schwob School of Music to purchase no less than 68 new Steinway pianos for their students.

(L-R) Fred Cohen, director of the Schwob School of Music, Maxine Schiffman, Rex Whiddon, director of major gifts and university stewardship and former director of the music program at The Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, onstage with the Steinway pianos. (Dave Bender)

Donor Maxine Schiffman joined CSU officials and Steinway representatives at a ceremony Tuesday, held onstage at Legacy Hall in the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 44 upright pianos and 24 grand pianos, valued at more than $2.5 million were on hand, and will be purchased as a result of the gift.

"Steinway pianos are the standard, according to Fred Cohen, director of the Schwob School of Music.

"Offering all our students Steinways – and nothing but Steinways – to practice with and to perform upon throughout their years at Schwob prepares them best for their musical careers.

"Experience with and exploration of the well-maintained Steinways in the RiverCenter will set the level for professional expectations in piano sound throughout the lives of Schwob faculty, students and in the Columbus community," Cohen said in a statement released by CSU.

In 2007, CSU named Maxine Schiffman an honorary alumnus, according to the statement.

Stage spotlights gleam off the polished wood of several of the Steinway grand pianos onstage. (Dave Bender)

The University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University and Spelman College previously became all Steinway schools.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of events at CSU.