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A "Grand Celebration" ... An Extraordinary Gift: September, 2007
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An extraordinary gift of sixteen brand new Steinway grand pianos has enabled Mason to become an All-Steinway School. Sidney O. Dewberry, former rector of Mason’s Board of Visitors, spearheaded an initiative last spring to make Mason a registered “All-Steinway School.” Through private support of individual donors and matching funds from the University, the music department has been able to purchase sixteen top-of-the-line Steinway grand pianos for the deLaski practice rooms/teaching studios.
Additionally, all students at the Mason School of Music benefit from this extremely important advantage: every practice room and teaching studio in our performing arts facility contains a Steinway grand piano. |
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All-Steinway Schools provide a commitment to excellence by providing their students and faculties with the best equipment possible for the study of music. Pianos are critical to every aspect of the instrumental and vocal programs at George Mason University. This truly transformational gift will have an enormous impact on the quality of the practice, teaching, and performance situations that our outstanding music students and faculty encounter on a daily basis. In addition, having superior instruments will help us in recruiting and retaining the very best music students and faculty to GMU.
Becoming an All-Steinway School speaks volumes about a music department because it symbolizes the highest levels of excellence and commitment to quality. George Mason University is among the ranks of distinguished schools such as the Juilliard School of Music, the Yale School of Music, and the Oberlin College Conservatory. |
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The faculty and students of Mason’s School of Music are profoundly grateful to each of the donors for this transformational gift: Sid and Reva Dewberry, Will and Susan Soza, Bill and Eleanor Hazel, John and Nina Toups, Milt and Carolyn Peterson, Peter and Carol Merchant Kirby, Al and Claire Dwoskin, Alan and Sally Merten, Lee Technologies, Larry and Gioconda Doll, and Wes and Betty Foster. In addition, we are extremely grateful for the University’s commitment to matching funds for this Steinway initiative, a pivotal factor for the success of this endeavor. |
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Pictured at right:
Dr. Linda Apple Monson, University President Dr. Alan Merten,
Mr. Sid Dewberry, and Dept. of Music Chair Dr. James Gardner,
at the September 2007 "A 'Grand Piano' Celebration" concert .
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August, 2009: George Mason University’s School of Music purchased numerous additional Boston upright pianos (a product of Steinway) for the practice rooms and faculty offices. We are particularly thankful for the University’s commitment to providing funds for these needed additional instruments. We are also very grateful to the Steinway Piano Gallery of Washington for their partnership and excellent service. During the 2009-2010 academic year, three beautiful new Steinway concert grands were purchased for GMU (two for the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas and one for the new de Laski Performing Arts Building in Fairfax.) Each of these concert grands was selected at the NYC Steinway Factory by Dr. Linda Apple Monson, International Steinway Artist. |
News reports and other items regarding George Mason School of Music, an "All-Steinway" school:
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All-Steinway Dedication Concert: Program
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