Found: The pianist plumber

By Cameron Young

Each day at lunch, Fred German steals an hour on the grand piano in Hendricks Chapel at the heart of Syracuse University’s campus.

Few people, other than the cleaning staff, notice his performances, but they can be heard faintly from within a short perimeter of the building.

German, a plumber for the university, has been playing since he started working there 18 years ago.

Hendricks Chapel has become a very special place for him, a place he feels ownership for.

In it he has found a venue where he can share his musical talent with other people. He says he wants to amaze people with his performances.