In February of 2012, Gene Korolev and his daughter Katherine Banyasz began working together on a custom piano project featuring the most advanced technology and use of new materials on a piano. They selected Steinway and Sons unique model A III for this challenging custom piano project.

This New York Serenade custom piano, a tribute to Swing years in America. A time of jazz big bands, glamour, dancing and Moonlight Serenade. One of the most unique features of this piano is 164,000 diamond cut cubic zirconia stones adorned on a piano case. With infinite amount of geometric and floral patterns, with nostalgic imagery of New York City’s familiar places like Grand Central Station, The Cotton Club, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and of course Steinway Hall, all set in a glowing intertwined patterns of cubic zirconia. The lid shows the New York Skyline and a magical moon shining over the Hudson River and creating illusion with a majestic shade of blue soundboard and a deep blue metallic cast iron plate.

One of the most important innovations in this piano design is a trapwork made from aircraft aluminum with ball-bearings in rotating points of the moving mechanism. The friction and durability of this trapwork, surpasses any existing trapwork on the market today.

This piano also comes with seamless installation for Live-Performance Model LX, a high resolution sound reproducing system, with sustain and shift proportional operating pedals. A complete wireless operation using iPad. The soundtrack also transmits wireless on a home theatre system or high-resolution sound system that enables this piano to produce the effect of a full symphony orchestra or a live jazz band entertaining.

The piano also features stainless steel agraffes for a perfect termination and purity of sound. It also includes stainless steel bass strings for clarity and durability as well as long lasting performance. The pinblock on this piano got unique drilling pattern to accommodate the angles of the harp. The piano has custom made hinges and hardware, as well as pedals. Regulating and pre-voicing is done by using a special device that help achieve precision and uniformity for that specific task. In addition, Gene Korolev invented a portable friction hinge for a slow-drop fallboard effect.

This project demanded a proper preparation, research and a strong technological background. “Our goal was to challenge ourselves and inspire others!”, says Gene Korolev of Piano Solutions XXI.

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