Steinway Celebrates Ten Years In China

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (December 22, 2014) — On November 29, the “Connected in Music—Steinway China 10th Anniversary Gala Concert” was staged at the National Center for the performing Arts in Beijing to an audience of more than 1,600 guests. The concert was the final episode of Steinway’s year-long celebration of its 10th anniversary in the China market. Performers included Lang Lang, Gary Graffman, the Philharmonia String Quartet, the Central Conservatory of Music CHINA Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the award-winning young conductor Yu Lu.

The evening also marked the launch of ten “Steinway China 10th Anniversary” Special Edition pianos, the most representative of which is the “China First,” a handmade piano that took two years to create and that was inspired by the first Steinway piano brought to China in 1880. The other nine pianos are crafted with finishes of seven of the world’s rarest species of wood: Special Macassar, Grenadillo Pearl, Pyramid Mahogany, Ziricote, Padouk, Elm Burl, and Rose Oak.

The gala commemorated a decade of tremendous development for Steinway in China. As of 2014, Steinway’s Chinese business has risen to 10% of its global sales. “In Steinway’s global business, China plays a very important role,” said Werner Husmann, President of Steinway Pianos Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. “Over the past decade, with its successful marketing model, Steinway has laid a solid foundation in logistics, warehousing, and technical services, creating a good platform for Steinway’s growth both in China and the Asia-Pacific region.”

“We are deeply encouraged by our Chinese friends, by how much they love music and how highly they value quality,” said Michael Sweeney, President and CEO of Steinway & Sons Worldwide. “In order to deepen and expand our partnerships, we are committed to ongoing and significant investment in China.”

About Steinway & Sons
Since its founding in New York in 1853, Steinway & Sons has been considered the world's premier piano manufacturer. Known for their exceptional craftsmanship, Steinway & Sons pianos are built in one of two company-owned and operated factories: Astoria, New York and Hamburg, Germany. Steinway & Sons pianos are still constructed primarily by hand, using many of the techniques developed over 160 years ago. Today, Steinway & Sons also offers the Boston and Essex piano lines, Listen, a magazine for music and culture lovers, and the Steinway & Sons record label. For more information, visit www.steinway.com.

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Anthony Gilroy
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