Bucks County Community College Achieves All-Steinway Designation
As seen in the Winter 2017 Steinway Chronicle
NEWTOWN, PA – It was a special evening on May 6th at the Zlock Performing Arts Center, when Bucks County Community College celebrated the successful conclusion of its All-Steinway campaign. With Oscar Andrew Hammerstein III, grandson of beloved lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, serving as master of ceremonies, the festivities included performances by the College Concert Choir, Student Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Faculty Quartet.
BCCC’s march toward All-Steinway began in 2009 by Professor Edward Ferdinand, who trained at the Curtis Institute of Music with Cuban-born virtuoso Jorge Bolet and earned bachelor and master degrees in music from Juilliard. He worked hand-in-hand with the BCCC Foundation to secure funding for the project, with support from John Mathews, Dean of Arts, and Professor Steven Bresnen, who heads the School of Music.
“By investing in high-quality instruments prized for superior craftsmanship, design, reliability, longevity and value, Bucks is providing the music program with a product of exceptional pragmatic and artistic merit,” said Dr. Bresnen. “Having world-class pianos in virtually all of our teaching spaces will benefit every student pursuing musical and academic success. We are most appreciative of the college’s commitment to excellence.”
Dean Mathews said the All-Steinway designation represents a substantial investment made by BCCC on behalf of the department that will generously benefit current and future students.
Kevin Heinselman of Jacobs Music, who generated a thorough inventory analysis to help ignite the All-Steinway initiative, noted he college’s “unwavering resolve” to provide he best instruments possible for the study of music. The Jacobs Music Steinway Award is presented to exceptional and deserving students, he said, while several alumni have established music scholarships. “This tremendous level of support comes from generations of individuals who continue to recognize and appreciate the commitment to excellence at BCCC,” Heinselman said.
Situated on 200 acres of the former Tyler Estate in Newtown, BCCC was founded in 1964 to fill the need for a two-year college to serve high school graduates and citizens in Bucks County.
