Principia College is joining a prestigious group of universities and music conservatories throughout the world that carry the “All Steinway” designation. Principia will recognize this achievement at an All Steinway Celebration Concert featuring internationally noted pianist and senior music major Lindsay Garritson on Friday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. in Cox Auditorium. There will be a special presentation from New York Steinway & Sons and a reception will follow the concert.

Other “All Steinway” schools around the country include the Juilliard School, Yale University, Oberlin College, and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. “Principia enjoys a proud decades-long tradition of providing outstanding instruction and instruments to its musicians,” says Dr. Tom Fuller, interim dean of the College. “They in turn have honored and blessed our community with great performances, and they have enriched the world with their musical achievements. There have been many Steinway pianos at Principia College since the creation of the Music Department. We are grateful to Steinway and to our generous donors to now be an ‘All Steinway School.’”

“This event is one of the greatest honors to be bestowed on a music department,” says Dr. Marie Jureit, professor of music and artist piano teacher at Principia College. “Having studied, performed, and taught on Steinways since childhood, I am thrilled that Principia College has been recognized for choosing the lasting legacy of Steinway pianos for future generations of music students to come.”

Steinway & Sons has been manufacturing world-class pianos in New York since 1853. It takes over 500 craftsmen, with 12,000 parts, more than one year to handcraft a Steinway piano. Steinway pianos actually appreciate in value over time, with universities routinely receiving a larger trade value for their older Steinways than the original purchase price.

“When Principia College traded its older Steinways, some of which had been in service for about forty years, the value they had retained enabled the Music Department to meet its new piano needs in a most unexpected way,” says College organist and professor of music Dr. John Near.

Principia’s piano purchase was made through the Steinway Piano Gallery of Saint Louis, the region’s exclusive dealer of Steinway products. “The quality of Principia’s music program and Steinway pianos are a perfect fit,” says Steinway Piano Gallery President David Slan. “Principia has been a consistent purchaser of Steinway pianos for many years. It is our pleasure to welcome them to the select group of All Steinway Schools.”