The grand piano sitting in the choir has a rumored past that stretches far beyond Lawrence.
The instrument was originally acquired from Carnegie Hall in New York, but over the years, whispers have circulated claiming Elvis Presley once played it. Most students only learned about the rumor in passing.
“Ms. Naughtin just mentioned it in one random choir rehearsal,” senior Maria Guereca Palacio said. “Honestly, I don’t think we ever knew the piano’s name, much less that it might have been played by Elvis himself.”
Though some students question whether the story is confirmed or more of a school legend, many say the possibility makes the instrument feel meaningful.
“If Elvis actually did play it, it’s like a piece of history,” senior Paul Radley said. “At this point, it’s part of the school, so I feel like we should keep it.”
Band director Mike Jones said the piano’s exact history isn’t well documented.
“I would not be able to pinpoint a time or place, because no one really knows when it happened,” Jones said. “When it actually came here was probably in the 70s or 80s.”
Regardless of its origins, the piano is far from a museum piece. It’s regularly used to rehearse and accompany choir performances.
“I think it’s kinda cool that we have something from a really cool artist in our music department and our accompanist is able to play it and it’s not just up for display,” junior Saylor Leitch said.
For accompanist Janet Hart, the piano is meaningful for reasons beyond its past.
“I had a student who composed for us and we played it on that piano,” Hart said. “It was my favorite thing; I was emotionally connected to the piece.”
Even without knowing all the details, students say the piano’s story adds character to their choir program.
“I don’t really understand how it ended up here but I think it’s really funny that it did,” Guereca Palacio said. “Cause now we just use it for choir concerts and stuff. It’s just there and Elvis played it one time.”
Students appreciate the novelty the piano brings to the choir program.
“Being able to play it at the concerts is pretty cool to have a fun little easter egg,” Leitch said. “It’s a fun little story to tell at the concerts when people ask where it came from.”
