Maggie Martin

maggiemartin@gannett.com

At First Baptist Church of Shreveport, the black piano behind the pulpit is called the “Cliburn Piano.”

The concert Steinway grand piano was given to the church by the late pianist Van Cliburn after its membership moved from the downtown location — which was torn down — to its present location at 543 Ockley Drive.

Cliburn, who died in 2013, dedicated it at a concert in September 1963 to a standing room only crowd in the red and white sanctuary. He skyrocketed to international fame in 1958 when he won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War.

ARCHIVES:Shreveporter advances in Tchaikovsky

The piano has been refurbished and will be re-dedicated Sept. 18 in a concert by guest artist and composer Benjamin "Benji" Harlan. A former music director at Shreveport's Emmanuel Baptist Church, Harlan has served as dean of music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

"After 50 years of service, the piano was completely re-worked which was paid for by attorney John Odom and his sister, Susan Odom Cashman," said Ray Boswell, a long time friend and neighbor of Cliburn and his parents.

The piano will be dedicated as a memorial to Juanita Odom and the dedication ceremony will honor her many years of service as pianist at First Baptist, said Odom.

"Along with contributions from many of mother's friends to the Music Ministry of the church, my sister, Susan Odom Cashman and I underwrote the renovation of the piano," said Odom.

"Harlan is the closest pianist to mother's personal style that I've ever heard," added Odom.

Cliburn lived in Shreveport until he was six years old and attended First Baptist with his parents. They moved to east Texas and moved back here in 1961, said Boswell.

MUSIC: Famous faces with local ties

He performed for every President of the United States from Harry Truman and for royalty and heads of state in Europe, Asia and South America.

His list of awards is lengthy. In a 2004 Kremlin ceremony, he received the Order of Friendship from President Vladimir Putin, and in 2003, President George W. Bush bestowed upon him the Presidentia Medal of Freedom in a White House ceremony. President Barack Obama presented him the National Medal of Arts in a 2011 White House ceremony.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

The late pianist Van Cliburn was such a good friend of his neighbors, Ray Boswell and the late Billie Boswell, that he thought nothing of asking them to throw a party for guests he was bringing to town in 1978 for his last Shreveport Symphony Orchestra performance.

For the concert, then First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcus flew an entourage in her private plane from New York. "He wanted Billie and me to host a reception in our home for Mrs. Marcos and her friends after the afternoon concert.and, he said in the entourage would be a young man who "would become one of the world's greatest tenors." That tenor was Placido Domingo, who had not gained great fame at that point.

Cliburn suggested to the Boswells that pecan and strawberry pies would be "appropriate" for a "Southern reception."

When Boswell opened the door, to greet the pianist and his guests, in walked Imelda Marcus and Placido Domingo.

In a booklet Boswell has put together, "Van Rildia Bee and Me," Boswell details the friendship: "This is the story of an ordinary man who had an extraordinary friendship with world-renowned pianist Van Cliburn and his mother, Rildia Bee." Cliburn's dad, Harvey Levan Cliburn was also a friend.

They were Boswells' next door neighbors. (The Cliburns moved into the Wilder Place house in 1961 and the Boswells in 1969.)

And quickly became fast friends.

Such good friends that Boswell accompanied the Cliburns to Russia to play for Mikhai Gorbachez on one occasion.

Boswell was among speakers at Cliburn's funeral, which also included then Texas Gov. Rick Perry and President George W. Bush and Paul Harvey Jr.. He also read the Scripture at the service.

In the booklet, there are the stories of :

Boswell and Billie being among 25 of Rildia's Shreveport-Kilgore, Texas, friends Imelda Marcos flew to New York for her birthday party.

Boswell accompanying Van on a private plane to Russia at the invitation of President Mikhail Gorbachev who wanted to hear him perform. During the several day visit, Boswell was asked to speak at Moscow Baptist Church. Van always attended when in Russia and where Evangelist Billy Graham had spoken six months before. They celebrated Van's July 12 birthday at the American Embassy.

Business dealings Cliburn trusted Boswell with included a local bank account which paid for local bills for utilities and household help and later other matters around the country. For instance, Boswell looked after the Cliburn house for 40 years.

When the Cliburns were invited to a a party here, the Boswells were, tool.

Arkansas piano dedication

Three weeks later, the concert Grand Steinway piano from Cliburn's Fort Worth home will be dedicated with a concert by Olga Kern at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas.

It was given to the museum by the pianist's longtime partner, Thomas Smith.

"The gift of Van's piano is one that has give me great joy," said Smith, in an e-mail to Crystal Bridges officials. "The upcoming concert that the museum and my friend Alice Walton has organized because of that gift, celebrates Van's passionate belief that great music is an art form capable of bringing beauty to all."

Kern won the Gold Medal at the 2001 Van Cliburn Competition and was the first woman to win the competition in in more than 30 years.

If you go

What: Dedication Concert for the Van Cliburn Piano Gift to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

When: 5 p.m.at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark.

Admission: $50 or $40, members.

Information: crystalbridges.org.