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St. Cloud State University
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Diversions
Piano concert to showcase new Steinway
By Joe Palmersheim
Published:
Thursday, October 3, 2002
A welcome addition has arrived to the SCSU Campus: a brand new Steinway grand piano. The piano is 9-feet, large enough to be used at Carnegie Hall.
The arrival of the new piano marked the end of a 10-year effort on part of the faculty at SCSU to bring the instrument to campus. The idea sprung forth during the renovation of Ritsche Auditorium in the early 1990s. There was a request for better quality instruments, but funds weren't available to purchase them. The piano was finally purchased after years of grants, fund raising and help from MnSCU had finally raised the $100,000.
The piano was handpicked for the SCSU by a group of faculty that flew out to New York where Steinway pianos are made. The piano was later shipped to SCSU, accompanied by a Steinway technician. The goal for the faculty was to have a piano that could be used not just for music department events, but for other events as well.
"We believe strongly enough that the piano is an essential and appropriate use of money," said instructor Catherine Verrilli.
The piano is the centerpiece for the upcoming Faculty Collage Concert. The concert takes place on October 11, and is the first in a series of five that the faculty will be putting on throughout the year to showcase the musical diversity of the school.
This marks the first time the faculty has done a series of concerts, and is a pilot project. The Faculty Collage Concert is being held in honor of the arrival of the new piano, and there will be a brief dedication ceremony during the intermission.
The ceremony will feature pieces by Chopin and Rachmaninoff, as well as the world premier of Ghost Love, a work composed by Scott Miller.
The concert will run about an hour and a half, and there is a work opportunity for students to work as ushers to earn a little extra cash.
