This upright piano was modified for the Leeds Piano Trail 2021, a series of publicly playable pianos scattered throughout Leeds as part of the Leeds International Piano Competition. Portholes cut into the piano meant players could see how the hammers and damping pedal work, something which is normally hidden on uprights. Additional LED lights were installed inside the piano, illuminating its innards in response to what was played, and colourful polyurethane foam oozed off its back
The piano was installed in the Leeds University Union building, and was used for introductory piano lessons while there. It was modified in response to the ‘Pianola Nova’, a technologically enhanced piano that was installed nearby linking a piano in Leeds with one at the University of Edinburgh. For more details about both pianos see here.
