Prairie View A&M University Adds 26 Steinway & Sons Pianos

PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS – Combine a prestigious All-Steinway designation with a prized invitation to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Prairie View A&M University is in an undeniable New York state of mind for 2017. 

The purchase of 26 New York Steinway pianos for nearly $1.3 million is the largest equipment expenditure in 100 years for the Department of Music, which became a degree-granting program at the historically black university in 1917. Prairie View A&M traces its lineage to the Texas Constitution of 1876 and is recognized as the first state-supported college for African Americans. The school’s award-winning “Marching Storm” is scheduled to represent the Lone Star State in the 91st Macy’s extravaganza – one of just 10 bands selected by the iconic department store from 175 applicants around the country.

“Being an All-Steinway School not only elevates the stature of the department by making the world’s finest instruments available to our students, but also provides the main avenue by which our piano faculty can fully convey all aspects of quality teaching.”

“Being an All-Steinway School not only elevates the stature of the department by making the world’s finest instruments available to our students, but it also provides the main avenue by which our piano faculty can fully convey all aspects of quality teaching,” explains Dean Danny Kelley of the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences.

Over several years of requesting piano upgrades, officials balked at exploring cheaper alternatives and realized the inherent value of making a long term quality investment: “We fought over a period of time not to settle for lesser quality instruments,” he asserts. “Ultimately, we won the fight. It’s been worth every effort we put into this quest. Generations of students will avail themselves of these quality pianos and given proper maintenance, which is assured through an agreement with Steinway Piano Gallery – Houston, we are confident that quality will be sustained for years to come.”

“Prairie View A&M’s vision of excellence to produce only the finest musicians mirrors Steinway’s commitment to producing only the world’s finest pianos.”

Ron Losby, CEO of Steinway Musical Instruments, lauded the university’s decision to choose only Steinway pianos in fulfilling its mission. “Prairie View A&M’s vision of excellence to produce only the finest musicians mirrors Steinway’s commitment to producing only the world’s finest pianos,” he said.