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Steinway & Sons | Summer 2006
Distinguished Designation
Three new institutions join the esteemed ensemble of All-Steinway Schools.
The growing roster of All-Steinway Schools includes a number of impressive institutions in its repertoire. All-Steinway Schools gain entrance into a prestigious roster with benefits such as the recognition that 90 percent or more of the schools' collection of pianos is of Steinway design, an esteemed affiliation with Steinway & Sons. The number of these schools is up to 57, and it's estimated to reach 100 by the year 2010. Three notable institutions recently were honored by Steinway & Sons with the All-Steinway School distinction: James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia; Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center/Henry Mancini Arts Academy in Midland, Pennsylvania.
James Madison University's history with Steinway probably began before World War I, estimates Jeffrey Showell, director and professor for the school of music at James Madison University (JMU). Now the school has 100 Steinway-designed pianos and will be getting 45 more in 2009. JMU was officially recognized as an All-Steinway School in August 2005. Showell, Eric Ruple (the university's resident Steinway Artist), Marilou Johnson (dean of fine arts), Jake Myers (the university's financial officer) and an anonymous donor have banded together to make their dream a reality. The process happened quickly as things came together for the team.
"In retrospect, it was quite fast, but we were so anxious to get it completed that it seemed slow at the time," says Showell. Finances certainly helped. A million dollars has been generously given to the university's music school for the purchase of the pianos. Motivation also attributed to the collaborators' anxiety to get the All-Steinway School recognition before the renovations to the music department's structure was complete. JMU is receiving a grand makeover including two new concert halls, additional rehearsal space, offices and practice rooms. Most of all, though, the efforts to get these instruments were for the music students. Of the 17,000 students at JMU, 380 are music majors. Showell says there was "palpable excitement" across the School of Music campus when the news broke of JMU's achievement to become an All-Steinway School.
For Showell, the value of being an All-Steinway School is "inestimable" for "publicity, faculty and student recruiting, and of course pedagogical." All of JMU's professors have benefited from "better and more reliable instruments for instruction," says Showell, and the piano professors are also enjoying world-class pianos on which to play. The improvement in quality of instruments coupled with the increased pride in the school and its facilities are the benefits that Showell cites for the students. Overall, the All-Steinway School recognition and the increase in the number of the Steinway-designed pianos at the school have blessed JMU with "less maintenance, happier faculty and students, and much, much more visibility nationally," says Showell.
Converse College
The Carroll McDaniel Petrie School of Music at Converse College is a comprehensive, professional school of music within a liberal arts college for women. Converse College was named an All-Steinway School in December 2005, and it is the first women's college in the nation and the first college in South Carolina to be honored with the All-Steinway status. The Petrie School of Music has 76 Steinway-designed pianos, and about 125 students. More than 800 people participate in the school's Alia Lawson Pre-College Program that offers music and dance classes from kindergartners to octogenarians.
Joseph Hopkins, Dean of the Petrie School of Music and a professor of voice, says the process of becoming an All-Steinway School took about a year. "This is a success story of a team," he says. The mission was accomplished by more than 80 people who gave their time, money (in increments from $100,000 and down) and spirit to achieve the Petrie School of Music's goal of becoming an All-Steinway School.
Initiating and cultivating the movement was Hopkins, piano curator Benny Mixon, the Petrie School's business manager Sarah Spigner, and the piano faculty: Douglas Weeks (a Steinway Artist), Melanie Foster Taylor, Paula Morgan, Mildred A. Roche, John Turbell, and a group of trustees that have been longtime supporters of the school: Bill Lowndes, Betty Montgomery and Kurt Zimmerli, and additional donors who wish to remain anonymous. "So often schools will have received enough from just one donor. The nice thing for us is that this was a team effort." Plus, Hopkins adds, we had "100 percent support from the faculty and staff. It's nice to know everyone stands behind us."
Steinway & Sons president Bruce Stevens and director of institutional sales Sally Coveleskie flew down to present the award for the big day last winter. "It was a huge celebration," says Hopkins. He and his team have been working towards this goal for about a year, and the payoff is great. In addition to the value of being recognized for being a part of the prestigious club of All-Steinway Schools, Hopkins is equally excited about "having wonderful instruments that last. These instruments are built to last more than 100 years."
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
Slated to open to students in the fall, the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (LPPAC) was also recently honored with the All-Steinway School recognition. The process began about a year ago when the first Steinway was purchased in January 2005. Instrumental in the behind-the-scenes work of earning the All-Steinway School recognition were several people, including Dr. Nick Trombetta (executive director), Ron Young (project director), Gavan Pamer (artistic director), and Stephen Catanzanarite (managing director).
Internationally acclaimed pianist Lang Lang chose three of the 20 Steinway pianos for the brand-new, multi-use facility-two Model Ds and one Model B. These will be showcased in the performance spaces. Excited about the opening, Catanzanarite says, "From the practice room to the recital hall, every piano at Lincoln Park will be designed by Steinway & Sons, putting the Center in such esteemed company as the Juilliard School, Oberlin College Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and the Yale School of Music. As a new school, this demonstrates our commitment to excellence and to providing students with the best opportunities to study, learn and perform."
Being an All-Steinway School is invaluable in a multitude of ways. "All-Steinway Schools demonstrate a dedication to excellence by providing students and faculties with the best equipment possible for the study of music," says Catanzanarite.
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