Chambersburg, PA (October 9, 2015) – The Inn at Ragged Edge, a Cumberland Valley-based Bed and Breakfast located in the historic mansion built by Colonel Moorehead Kennedy in 1901, is proud to unveil the latest addition to its front room – a Steinway Model B Parlour Grand Piano built in 1903 for Harrods of London and recently restored by PianoCraft of Gaithersburg, MD. The 114-year-old piano will make its Chambersburg debut in an intimate concert with world renown pianist, Eric Himy, on October 24 at 7:00pm. Open to the public, tickets for the event are $50 and can be purchased by contacting the Inn at 717.496.8372 or emailing info@theinnatraggededge.com. Wine, cheese and desserts will be served. The piano, a Steinway & Sons Model B Music Room Grand, was built in 1901 for Harrods of London. With an intricate inlaid design, the historic piece was restored by Gaithersburg, MD-based PianoCraft, specializing in the restoration, rebuilding, customization, care and sales of the world’s finest pianos. “The piano is a birthday gift for my wife, Barb,” explains Innkeeper, Ken Kipe. “Born and raised in Russia and studying music there, she is a wonderful musician, in her own right. We purchased this historic piece not only for Barb to play, but to have beautiful music as the centerpiece of our home. Guests are welcome to play and share their talent as well. We haven’t received full details yet about where the piano has travelled throughout its long life, but just touching the keys, you can tell it has a rich history.” Performing the inaugural concert at The Inn at Ragged Edge, Eric Himy has been described by The New York Times as “flawlessly poised, elegant and brilliant.” His compelling artistry has intrigued audiences around the world, playing to critical acclaim in the United States, Canada, South America, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and Slovenia. A Juilliard graduate, Himy began piano studies at age six, giving his first concert at age 10. He was guest soloist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at age 15, and at 19 he made his National Symphony Orchestra debut. Throughout his career, Himy has released 15 CDs and three DVDs, including homages to Mozart, Schumann, Debussy, Liszt and Chopin, as well as a project recorded with the Saint Petersburg State Symphony in Russia.
In his Chambersburg performance, Himy plans to offer selections from Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Albeniz and Chopin. His concert is the first of many to come in the future at The Inn at Ragged Edge. “Fran and Lew Martin did a wonderful job of restoring the Inn in 2010 and bringing it back to it’s former luster. Several design features, such as light fixtures, are original to the house,” says Kipe. “Since purchasing the Inn, one of our goals is to restore the atmosphere to its former glory. Ragged Edge was known to be a home of laughter and fun. We make it a point to get to know our guests and welcome them as family. Barb gets up early to make a wonderful full breakfast every morning and attends to guests’ needs. With the concert on the 24th, we are starting what will hopefully be a long tradition of becoming a resting point for exceptional talent, such as Mr. Himy, who are also willing to share their gifts and abilities with our local community. The Inn also hosts an afternoon Tea the third Thursday of every month and is available as a quiet option for meeting and event space. In the future, we hope to hold periodic open houses and other events open to the public.” For more information about The Inn at Ragged Edge or ticket details for the Eric Himy performance, please visit www.theinnatraggededge.com, email info@theinnatraggededge.com or call 717.496.8372. Seating is limited. ABOUT THE INN AT RAGGED EDGE A boutique Bed and Breakfast in Chambersburg, PA, The Inn at Ragged Edge is the perfect setting for relaxation, romance, and rejuvenation. The historic mansion was built in 1900-1901 by Philadelphia architect, Frank Furness, for Col. Moorehead Kennedy, President of the Cumberland Valley Railroad and Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as the family’s summer home. A large addition and electric were added in 1913 and Ragged Edge became the largest residence in Franklin County. The Kennedys enjoyed entertaining and the home was known for its lavish parties, concerts and dances, boasting guests such as the Governors of Pennsylvania and Maryland, U.S. Senators, prominent business leaders and New York and Philadelphia society, as well as General Pershing, Brigadier General Atterbury and French General Foch. Horses, geese and peacocks were among the many animals kept at Ragged Edge, and beautiful gardens with white hyacinths and grape arbors decorated the grounds. Throughout the years, the home has been used in many facets and became The Inn at Ragged Edge in 2010 when Lew and Fran Martin purchased and restored the historic mansion. In April 2015, Ken and Barb Kipe purchased the iconic Chambersburg landmark with the intention of bringing Ragged Edge back to its original reputation of a home filled with family, friends, music and fun. More information about the history of Ragged Edge and reservation details for the Bed and Breakfast can be found online at www.theinnatraggededge.com