Pellissippi State marks ‘All Steinway’ achievement with celebration concert

Pellissippi State Community College will be immersed in “all things Steinway” on Sept. 13, as it shares with the community the achievement of becoming an All Steinway School.

The special Steinway Celebration concert, a free event to which the public is invited, features a performance by noted pianist William DeVan, an official “Steinway Artist.” DeVan is conducting a “master” class with Music students while at the college as well.

The concert is preceded by a dedication ceremony honoring Dr. Sharon Lord. Pellissippi State is recognizing the community leader, motivational speaker and businesswoman for her support and establishing the Dr. Sharon Lord Music Suite.

All activities take place on the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.

The Pellissippi State Foundation kicked off the All Steinway School fundraising campaign in 2010 in order to elevate the college’s Music program to world-class status. Thanks to the campaign, the community college now boasts 13 Steinway pianos in studios, practice rooms and performance venues.

Not only is Pellissippi State the premier All Steinway community college in Tennessee, but it is also the fourth All Steinway community college in the nation and one of only about 120 All Steinway colleges and universities in the world.

DeVan, one of the elite pianists who travel and perform as Steinway Artists, was a professor of music at Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama from 1980 until his retirement this year. Twice awarded Mellon Foundation grants, DeVan earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City.

DeVan performs a variety of musical selections on the 13th, showcasing one of Pellissippi State’s new Steinway pianos. Steinway representatives from New York City, the company’s headquarters, will be in attendance at the event.

Dr. Sharon Lord, a supporter of the All Steinway School campaign, has played key leadership roles on the local, national and international level in academia, business and government service.

The first female professor of educational psychology at the University of Tennessee (1969-80), Dr. Lord was instrumental in the creation of the university’s Women’s Studies program and the UT Women’s Athletics program, as well as the school’s Appalachian Center for Educational Equity. She also has been honored with the UT Outstanding Teacher Award and recognized for her work on human empowerment.

The West Virginia native served as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense during the administration of President Ronald Reagan and later as West Virginia’s Secretary of Human Services. The author of numerous books and publications, Dr. Lord continues to speak internationally on topics of creative leadership, healthy lifestyles and managing challenging transitions.

The Dr. Sharon Lord Music Suite dedication begins at 6:15 p.m. in the Alexander Building. Attendees are asked to gather in the Lobby of the Clayton Performing Arts Center, where they will be directed to the suite.

The Steinway Celebration concert gets under way at 7 p.m. in the Clayton Performing Arts Center. Free parking is available for both events.

Donations will be accepted at the door for the Pellissippi State Foundation on behalf of the Music Scholarship fund. During the 2010-11 academic year, more than 100 music-related scholarships were awarded to more than 80 Pellissippi State students.

For additional information about the Steinway Celebration, contact Bill Brewer, Pellissippi State’s Music program coordinator, at (865) 694-6701 or lwbrewer@pstcc.edu.

For information on the Steinway Maintenance Society, call the Pellissippi State Foundation at (865) 694-6529 or visit www.pstcc.edu/steinway.

To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.

Have you ever wondered why Steinway Pianos are considered the world’s best piano?

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, August 27, 2011
TIME: 10:30am
WHERE: American Piano Gallery
11651 Parkside Dr
Farragut, TN 37934
RSVP: 865-671-3388 or events@americanpianogallery.com
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EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!! Read all about it!
University of Tennessees Chancellor Jimmy Cheek says, “We will become an all Steinway School.” Pellissippi State becomes the first community college in Tennessee to become an all Steinway School and only the 5th in the Nation. ETSU, MTSU, Martin Methodist, Belmont University, and 125 more colleges and Universities are “all Steinway” schools.
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If you would like to know why these colleges and universities choose to be all Steinway Schools; why 98 percent of all concerts artists around the world choose to play on a Steinway when they perform on stage; and why 97 percent of concert halls across the nation have Steinway pianos on stage, then you won’t want to miss this!!

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Learn the Secrets of Steinway…
Come hear and see what makes a Steinway Piano truly one of the world’s most sought after pianos.
We will show you the secret patents of a hand-crafted Steinway piano and what gives it the ability to make a sound that
is so valued the world over.

You will be afforded the opportunity to see construction patents used in Steinway pianos that can only be seen in the factory. and how hand-made Steinways have been made for the past 158 years.

When: Saturday August 27th
Where: American Piano Gallery
Time 10:30 am