Cunningham Pianos honored at Thursday’s City Council meeting

Two weeks after City Council unanimously passed a resolution (PDF) praising Cunningham Pianos, a Germantown mainstay, co-owner Tim Oliver accepted those accolades at Thursday’s session at City Hall.

The resolution honoring Cunningham Piano noted that the 123-year-old company “continues the tradition of its founder with outstanding craftsmanship.”

It continues that, “Cunningham’s workmanship and extraordinary technical expertise caught the eye of the Science Channel’s program How It’s Made, which is airing two shows on piano manufacturing and reconstruction.”

Speaking before council members and the audience, Oliver noted the coincidental nature of City Hall being built around the same time the company’s founding. He wondered aloud whether the founders were ever in a similar position as he was on Thursday.

Oliver said that he views his job as remniscent of being a captain of a ship in a lineage including many who came before, and hopefully come after, him.

He also thanked council for its efforts as they pertain to the arts.

“I thank you for helping to keep music and the arts strong in Philadelphia,” he said to council members including Cindy Bass, who sponsored the resolution. “It’s important that it remains strong.”