The Weber Piano Project

In 2016 I received an unexpected inquiry from Jeffrey Spencer, a historian in Omaha, Nebraska. He was researching the whereabouts of a 125-year-old Weber grand piano that he believed might be in my possession. What caught my attention was not his question, but his claim that he had personally seen the piano decades earlier in the home of its original owner, Eugenie Whitmore, one of Omaha’s most influential musical patrons.

That simple inquiry opened a door.

What began as a straightforward piano restoration gradually became something much larger. The project led me into Omaha’s musical history, the teachers and musicians who shaped my own musical journey, the craft of rebuilding a nineteenth-century instrument, and the lives of the people connected to it. Along the way I found mentors, unexpected friendships, and more than a few surprises. 

At the center of these stories sits an 1893 Weber grand piano.

The pages gathered here document the restoration of the instrument, the search for its history, and the people whose lives intersected with it. Some visitors may be interested in the technical details of rebuilding a piano action. Others may be drawn to the historical mystery, the musical connections, or the broader questions about teaching, artistry, and craftsmanship.

There is no single path through this project.

Explore the Project

The Story

The Weber Piano Project began as the restoration of an old piano and gradually became something much larger. What follows are the key moments that transformed an old piano into an unexpected journey through history, music, craftsmanship, and memory.

The Restoration

The step-by-step rebuilding of an 1893 Weber grand piano, from teardown and cleaning to regulation and refinement.

The People

The teachers, musicians, historians, craftsmen, and patrons whose lives became intertwined with the piano’s story.

Music and Meaning

Reflections on teaching, performance, practice, and the role music plays in our lives.

Omaha and History

The cultural world of Eugenie Whitmore, the Whitmore family, and the musical life of Omaha at the turn of the twentieth century. Choose the trail that interests you most and see where it leads.

Lessons from the Shop

What master craftsmen can teach us about patience, judgment, excellence, and the pursuit of quality.

The project continues to grow as new photographs, documents, and stories come to light. What began as the restoration of an old piano has become an ongoing exploration of music, history, craftsmanship, and the people who give them meaning.

I hope you’ll enjoy the journey as much as I have.