It’s the 9-foot Steinway & Sons Grand piano owned by the Iberia Community Concert Association. Purchased during the 1971-72 season with money from a fundraiser while the late Mary Sandoz Brown was ICCA president, the piano’s notoriety spread after an “Overholt & Velta” performance here in 2004-05.
Sherry Overholt, soprano, and Lee Velta, baritone, wowed the audience and later told ICCA president Phyllis Cutrera it was the best piano they have ever been associated with, even overseas.
 Pianist Rudolf Budginas, who is scheduled to be here Nov. 23, delights audiences by illustrating how his classical music has influenced contemporary artists such as Billy Joel. SUBMITTED Advertisement
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“Oh, yes, we have a great piano for our artist to play on. We’re fortunate to have that piano,” said Cutrera, who was there that night to hear “Overholt & Velta.”
Association board member Claire Harper also recalled the stir the piano created that evening. Harper heard about it secondhand, unfortunately, because she was with her late husband, former ICCA president Daniel Harper, who was very ill at the time.
“I heard the announcer said how he was having a hard time getting the piano away from the pianist,” Harper said with a soft chuckle.
Another accomplished master pianist is scheduled to sit on the bench to play the local piano next month. Rudolf Budginas, a musical prodigy who at age 9 made his debut with the Lithuanian National Symphony, was the board’s choice to perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 23 inside the auditorium at New Iberia Senior High.
Single tickets are being sold for $20 at Music Vision, Paul’s Flower Shop and Teche Office Supplies. ICCA membership plans for adults, families, full-time students and grandparents also are available. (Go to: www.iccamusic.org.)
Budginas was chosen by the board last year for this year’s lineup of three major events. Their choices came from a list put together by a representative from Nashville, Tenn.-based Live On Stage Inc.
“The board wanted to see something more of a classical nature, something you can’t hear or see live that often over here,” said board member Jacque Louviere, who owns A&C Recording, a CD and DVD manufacturer for various local and regional artists. He is also a concert promoter, producer and stage manager well-versed in sound and light for events.
The 42-year-old entrepreneur, who has been with the association seven years, said Budginas will play two 45-minute sets.
“If you’re going to hear a classical pianist, he does a lot of that. If you’re going to see a little comedy, he does that, too. He keeps you listening,” Louviere said.
Cutrera, who has been the group’s president six years, said Budginas will appeal to many people.
“Basically, I think probably any age would appreciate him,” said Cutrera, who works in the finance department for Halliburton Energy Services in Lafayette. “I’ve already had somebody call me from Baton Rouge that wants to come because they had seen him already in California and they want to see him again.”
She knows how someone interested in the arts can get hooked on a special performance. The first concert she attended was that of classical harmonica player Robert Bonfiglio.
Cutrera said she joined ICCA that night about 16 years ago and has volunteered her time ever since. She is hopeful local residents take the opportunity to hear Budginas.
Louviere said he was hoping for a crowd numbering at least 300.
“I would like to see the auditorium at NISH filled up. It’s a fantastic show,” he said.
Harper, whose husband died in 2007, also made an appeal to people in the Teche Area.
“I’ve always enjoyed concerts. My husband was so active and I worked alongside him,” she said. “I pray there’ll be more young people to enjoy such music from all over the world for such a low price.”
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