Location: Manchester Bidwell Corp. in the Chateau neighborhoodFeatured guests: Jonathan Zito, director of communications for Manchester Bidwell Corp., and Marty Ashby, executive producer for MCG Jazz3 things that surprised me:1. The Manchester Bidwell Corp. combines a diverse array of functions, and it was a bit confusing to grasp at first. There are three parts to the organization. The Bidwell Training Center is where adult students get hands-on vocational training in a variety of fields. MCG Youth is an afterschool arts education program that includes photography, ceramics, printmaking, digital arts and more. Lastly, MCG Jazz is a performance venue, recording label and education program that preserves and promotes jazz in Pittsburgh.2. When Bidwell Training Center first opened in 1968 it offered hands-on training in carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing and other construction trades. In the years since, the center has adapted its curriculum to meet the changing needs of Pittsburgh’s employers. Jonathan walked me through the classrooms for the current programs that include horticulture, culinary arts, chemical laboratories and medical fields.3. For years after “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” finished filming, the piano played by Johnny Costa, the show’s musical director, sat unplayed in the WQED studios. In 2019 the Steinway was donated to MCG Jazz, where it’s regularly played in concerts and soon will be used as part of its education programs. Fred Rogers even filmed a few segments for his TV show in the building. He once got a ceramics lesson from Bill Strickland, founder of the Manchester Craftman’s Guild.One thing that didn’t make the final cut: Bill Strickland created a ceramics program called the Manchester Craftsman’s Guild in 1968. He was inspired by the guilds in Europe that trained future craftsmen. In 1972, MCG acquired the Bidwell Training Center, a then-struggling vocational school, to become the Manchester Bidwell Corp.Additional info: You can learn more about the Manchester Bidwell Corp. on its website.Want more Yinzer Backstage Pass? Check out our visit to Hellbender Vinyl, where we watched a record get pressed in just a couple minutes.The post How did Mister Rogers’ piano get to the North Side? appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh.