Dear Friends,
At Palo Alto High School, we are extraordinarily fortunate. We live in a community that values its students deeply, and we see that reflected in the spaces where they learn, grow, and shine. From the Peery Center to the Media Arts Building, the Tower Building to our athletic fields, our campus is filled with facilities that match the ambition, excellence, and creativity of our students.
The Case for a New Piano
The Performing Arts Center (PAC) is no exception and since its opening in 2016, it has become one of the most admired high school arts venues in the Bay Area. It’s beautiful, acoustically brilliant, and serves thousands of students and community members every year.
The one flaw in our performing arts center has always been the instrument that should tie the entire space together: the piano. The one on stage today doesn’t match the room it sits in, or the caliber of the students who perform with it. And that matters because the right piano isn’t just an instrument. It’s the foundation of every note, every rehearsal, every performance.
We would like to remedy that by raising funds to purchase a Steinway Model D piano that our students deserve and that will be used and enjoyed by the community.
This piano will serve our entire music program: choir, orchestra, band, and jazz ensemble, as well as student accompanists, soloists, guest artists, public performances, fundraisers, and future community partnerships. It is not just a tool, it’s a long-term investment in the sound and soul of our Performing Arts Center.
Our Goal and How You Can Help
I’m thrilled to share that this isn’t just a music department effort. The PAUSD District, our nonprofit partners, and our parent community have already done a remarkable job getting this effort off the ground. Together, we’ve raised nearly $130,000 toward our $240,000 goal, but we still have $110,000 left to go. This would pay for the instrument, warranty, delivery, and future maintenance.
The district and our families believe in this project and now, we need your help to finish the job. All gifts towards this effort are welcome and appreciated! For donors who are able to give at the levels listed below, additional recognition will be offered.
DONOR RECOGNITION
- $1,000+ donors will receive an invitation to an exclusive donors-only concert featuring a Steinway guest artist.
- $5,000+ donors will also be recognized on a permanent donor plaque in the PAC.
- $10,000+ donors will receive all of the above and acknowledgement in concert programs.
- Donors contributing $50,000 or more will receive all of the above acknowledgments and will be considered for an exclusive naming opportunity — a chance to leave a lasting legacy on the Steinway Model D concert grand.
If you’d like to be part of this legacy gift to our students and our community, we would love to speak with you. Please feel free to reach out.
And if your company offers donation matching, we can accept those too. It’s a great way to double your impact—and with year-end approaching, there are excellent tax reasons to make your gift this season. Your support goes farther than ever right now.
Let’s finish what we started. Let’s give our students and community the instrument they and this remarkable space deserve.
Warmly,
Michael Najar
How to Donate
All contributions are tax-deductible. You may donate in either of the following ways:
1. Via Friends of Paly Choirs (501(c)(3))
Make your check payable to:
Friends of Paly Choirs
EIN: #77-0382876
Please write “Piano Fund” in the memo line.
2. Directly to Palo Alto High School
Make your check payable to:
Palo Alto High School
Please note “Choir Piano Fund” in the memo line.
Important: Both donation paths are securely allocated specifically for the Steinway piano initiative. These funds are not part of any general account — they are exclusively reserved for this project.
If you’d prefer to donate online or need wiring instructions, please contact me.
