"The C7 is an amazing piano. It has the richest bass, and an overall sound that's so even, top to bottom," explains McCallum. "It also has an incredible touch. I can make it whisper or have all the power I'll ever need."

McCallum will use the C7 for his "Millennium Project," slated to begin in Fall 2001. He'll take his C7 on the road, to all 100 North Carolina counties, to perform piano music from the past 300 years at schools, concert venues, and arts councils, in tandem with educational offerings and featured local "piano heroes." "I want to show people how great this music is," says McCallum. "Performing it on a fine instrument like the C7 can make all the difference."

"This piano was a touring piano for Yamaha for two years," McCallum adds, played by such artists as Vince Gill, Jim Brickman, and David Benoit. "It's been well-seasoned!"

McCallum made his orchestral debut in Germany. He released a CD, Excursions, in 1996; performs benefit concerts for Habitat for Humanity; and holds degrees from University of Maryland, Eastman School of Music, and Hochschule Fur Musik in Wurzburg. His honors include the National Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Award and Elizabeth R. Davis Memorial Piano Competition.

New York Concert Series Offers Great Music

ummer in the city also means great outdoor music in Manhattan's Union Square and Bryant Parks. Whether downtown in the colorful 14th Street neighborhood or in bustling midtown, New Yorkers were treated to a delightful mix of classical, jazz, and gospel standards this season, as well as brand new compositions from some of the world's most promising artists. Performers wowed audiences on a Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand piano. "It's the premier Yamaha stage instrument - 1,500 pounds of magnificent engineering and craftsmanship," says Susan Muhler of Yamaha Artist Services. A Yamaha S4 grand piano was also used.

The New York Times Foundation Concert Series, now in its third season, draws thousands of people each day from June through August. "It began as a young performers series for emerging artists," explains Series Artistic Director Debbie Greitzer. "It was conceived to provide free concerts to the public and to offer a venue for young artists to play and collaborate with more established artists." She adds that Yamaha pianos have been the pianos of choice since the series' inception.

"We use Yamaha pianos exclusively," Greitzer says. "They are wonderful pianos because of the great sound and clarity."

Featured performers this summer included classical pianists Maxim Anakushin, Irina Lande, Irina Nuzova, and Dimitri Rachmanov performing works by Bach, Liszt, Prokofiev, Brahms, Tschiakovsky, Grieg, Kalman and Tzigane, as well as jazz pianist Paul Sullivan performing some original compositions. Audiences also got a dose of rousing gospel music with the group Sisters in Spirit, which included pianist Erika Brown performing on the Yamaha S4 piano. Rounding out the series was a performance of the opera Madam Butterfly.

Performers appreciated the Yamaha sound just as much as the series coordinators. "The piano was really comfortable for me," says Lande, who also uses a Yamaha in her home teaching studio.

"The Yamaha touch is even and the mechanics are excellent," says Anakushin of his Union Square Park performance.

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