NEWTOWN, PA – The Council Rock School District has infused its world-class music program with 10 new Boston pianos designed by Steinway & Sons.

Cited among the best programs by the National Association of Music Merchants for the past seven years, Council Rock makes wind, brass, percussion, string and choral instruction available to every student, with a variety of electives at Council Rock North and South high schools. Buoyed by a passionate community in southeastern Pennsylvania that wraps its collective arms around the arts, music plays a dynamic role at every stage of development.

CR musicians sport notable badges of honor. For instance the CR South High School Orchestra – more than 100 proud and excited members strong – performed at Carnegie Hall in 2016. And the CR South Vocal Ensemble is somewhat of a staple at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, infusing the White House with sublime holiday harmonies for not one or two, but four years in a row.

“It is most satisfying to watch our students evolve from their first performances in elementary school to their final performances in high school.”

Student performers routinely take their talents abroad to the far reaches of Iceland, England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, France, Greece, Spain, China, Argentina, Costa Rica and Hawaii.

“It is most satisfying to watch our students evolve from their first performances in elementary school to their final performances in high school,” said Keith Rudat, music curriculum coordinator. “It is wonderful when our alums come back and let our faculty know how much their participation in music has helped them personally and professionally.”

Matching such an illustrious program and stellar performance history required nothing less than pianos by Steinway & Sons. Following an inventory analysis by Jacobs Music Company, Council Rock chose to equip the new $53 million Newton Middle School and renovated $48 million Holland Middle School with two seven-foot Boston GP-215 Performance Edition II grand pianos. Earlier, the district opted for eight Boston UP-118S PE uprights to support general music studies at its elementary schools.

Rudat said the decision boiled down to Steinway-designed quality, sound and value. “The selection process involved support from our school board, central office administration, music faculty and community,” he said. “We are thrilled to have these new pianos and are confident they will provide a wonderful experience for our students in the decades to come. Now that we have completed our purchase for the elementary and middle schools, we plan to acquire nine-foot Steinway grand pianos for our high schools.”

The Council Rock Music Foundation is assisting with fundraising for the nine-foot Model Ds. The newly-minted organization also provides scholarships for deserving high school seniors pursuing careers in music and makes instruments available to financially-challenged students.

“Kevin Heinselman and Bob Rinaldi at Jacobs Music demonstrated a genuine interest in the success of our program and were extremely helpful throughout the entire process,” Rudat notes. “From our first contact to delivery of our new pianos, they went above and beyond what anyone would expect. It was a pleasure working with them.”

 “While we continue work toward replacing instruments and equipment and upgrading our music technology, we are looking to partner with colleges, universities and local businesses,” he said.