Shenandoah Conservatory to become “All-Steinway School”
University President Tracy Fitzsimmons and Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak outlined the effort to a group of faculty, students and donors, who gathered at a public unveiling of a fleet of Steinway pianos.
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Shenandoah University announced today its intention for Shenandoah Conservatory to seek the distinction of an “All-Steinway School.” At a special launch event at the Conservatory, University President Tracy Fitzsimmons and Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak outlined the effort to an applauding group of faculty, students and donors, who gathered to witness the public unveiling of a fleet of Steinway pianos. In becoming an All-Steinway School, Shenandoah Conservatory joins with six other Conservatories in the country that share the designation: this elite group includes Oberlin, Curtis, and Cleveland Institute of Music.
To qualify as an “All-Steinway School,” 90 percent of pianos owned by the school—from practice rooms to classrooms to faculty studios and concert spaces—must be Steinway or Steinway-designed pianos. Shenandoah began its selection of Steinway pianos at the Steinway & Sons headquarters factory in Queens, N.Y., on Friday, Oct. 14. The entire project includes a total inventory of 87 new pianos. “This remarkable project affects the entire community,” said Fitzsimmons. “While we certainly see the immediate and profound influence on all our students who work with piano music -- vocalists, instrumentalists, music theatre students and dancers -- each of us now has the opportunity to enjoy wonderful musicianship on the world’s finest pianos.”
Of the 17 pianos delivered on Oct. 27, two Steinway grand pianos will go to master classrooms that serve the entire Conservatory community, two will be placed in the teaching studio of Professor Elizabeth Temple, two will be placed in practice rooms of a newly dedicated Piano Suite for piano majors, and a Steinway upright piano will be placed in the Orhstrom Bryant Theatre stage pit. Additionally, pianos will be placed in five practice rooms in Ruebush Hall and three instrumental teaching studios in Armstrong Hall.
“This initiative helps elevate the Conservatory to the next level in reputation, allowing our faculty to support the highest levels of artistry and training, and increases the quality of music experience throughout the Conservatory.”
- Shenandoah Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak
All-Steinway Schools demonstrate a commitment to excellence by providing students and the faculty with pianos of the highest quality for performing and learning. According to Shenandoah Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak, “This initiative helps elevate the Conservatory to the next level in reputation, allowing our faculty to support the highest levels of artistry and training, and increases the quality of music experience throughout the Conservatory.” The All-Steinway distinction will help Shenandoah to recruit talented piano students interested in pursuing careers in performance and will further enhance the learning and performance experience for all members of the Conservatory community by identifying Shenandoah Conservatory as a premier destination for piano music in the region.
The All-Steinway initiative is estimated to be a $3 million project; $600,000 of that cost will endow a fund for piano maintenance and replacement. In order to complete the project, Shenandoah
University will raise funds over a projected time frame of approximately four years. Three generous
gifts have already been received for the project: a Piano Suite aimed at supporting piano majors needing the highest level of artistic support will be established to honor a gift made by Alan and Irene Wurtzel; a gift from the James R. Wilkins family provides both a matched pair of Steinway grands for Professor Elizabeth Temple’s studio as she celebrates 50 years of service at Shenandoah, and Steinway’s premier upright instrument, the K-52, for the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre orchestra pit; and a gift from Mary and Don Shockey provides a Steinway Model B for the premier master classroom and chamber music rehearsal room in Armstrong Hall.
The pianos represent an extremely prudent investment of University resources. Steinway pianos have a life span of at least 30 years and, when properly maintained, are legendary for retaining their value at a rate far exceeding any other piano instrument.
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