Since 2017, the Keene State music department has been in the process of becoming the only college in northern New England to be an “all Steinway school.”
In order to achieve this, a school must have 90% of the pianos on campus be from Steinway & Sons, a world renowned instrument manufacturer.
When Dr. Christina Wright-Ivanova joined the staff of KSC as an assistant professor in 2017, Wright-Ivanova said she was amazed by the “sad instruments” she saw.
“I realized we needed some keyboard support at this school, so I walked across the hall to Heather Gilligan… she said, ‘Well this has been in the works for some time,”’ Wright-Ivanova said.
Wright-Ivanova mentioned Keene State President Melinda Treadwell has been supportive of this goal. “All of the pieces just fell into place,” Wright-Ivanova said. “You have to have a really supportive upper-administration that sees the value in putting excellence in the arts first in a liberal arts college. And so we had that in Melinda Treadwell and her administration.”
After five years, KSC is currently in the final stretch, needing only to pay $200,000 for the final cost of the Steinway Spirio for the Alumni Recital Hall.
“It is Steinway’s most elite piano with incredible technological capabilities,” Wright-Ivanova said.
Director of Development Marilyn Shriver described what the Spirio can help the music department with.
“It will have recording and playback capabilities that will be very helpful in lessons and collaboration. Also in being able to simulcast concerts that are playing in other cities, and the piano will play in real time what the live pianist is playing,” Shriver said.
Wright-Ivanova mentioned that she pursued Steinway as the resident company because “it really holds itself to the highest standards of the industry.”
Wright-Ivanova added, “We talk about giving up-to-date, industry standard equipment for the STEM programs, but every music student needs access to a good piano… it elevates what we can offer to our students and guest performers.”
A big topic of conversation was the use of Steinways as a symbol of recruitment, Shriver said.
“Feedback from our fellow Steinway schools indicate that [being all Steinway] is a recruitment tool. Not just for music students, but all students. It says, “They care about quality,”’ Shriver said.
Students do not need to be a music major in order to use these pianos. At the Redfern, they have an open practice room policy.
“Any student who wants to come and play on these beautiful instruments is welcome to,” said Wright-Ivanova.
Music Department Chair Daniel Carberg said he has seen an impact on students since the arrival of Steinway pianos.
“My voice students are all having these breakthroughs and they’re singing better and I think it has to do with that piano being in my office,” Carberg said.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, the KSC Music Department is hosting a Steinway Gala to celebrate the Steinway project and raise money for the final piano.
Wright-Ivanova emphasized that the main goal of the gala is not just to fundraise, although that is still part of it.
“The gala is really going to be about celebrating these beautiful instruments, celebrating music, coming out of COVID[-19] as a community. The idea is that this is a joyous event celebrating all things piano,” Wright-Ivanova said.
Admission to the Steinway Gala for students is free, but registration is required.
For more information, visit the Redfern Arts Center website.
Kathryn Gregoire can be contacted at
kgregoire@kscequinox.com
