Santa Fe Named Florida’s First All-Steinway Piano College

May 6, 2011

Santa Fe College is the first member of Florida’s College System to be named an All-Steinway School by the New York-based maker of pianos, SF President Jackson Sasser announced May 6.

The designation is given to colleges and universities with more than 90 percent of their pianos that are Steinways, and if the institution meets the piano maker’s standards for use, maintenance and security for the instruments.

Santa Fe’s Steinway was purchased with a donation from Peggy and Marvin Gresham. Marvin Gresham is a member of the SF Endowment Board and former member and chair of the college’s District Board of Trustees.

“The designation and the housing of the college’s newly-acquired Steinway in our new Fine Arts Hall are emblematic of the overall quality of the arts programs at Santa Fe,” Sasser said. “Students, potential students, their families and the community will also see our music programs through a new, high quality lens.”

Santa Fe’s Steinway concert grand model D is a nine-foot, half-ton instrument placed in a special climate-controlled room in the Fine Arts Hall. Its inaugural use by SF was at a performance held recently to introduce the Fine Arts Hall to college employees.

The college plans to order as many as eight other Steinways to be located in performing spaces or practice studios on campus. All the pianos are or will be purchased with private funds through the Santa Fe Foundation.

Sasser said the SF Steinway is put to its best use because of the Fine Arts Hall’s well designed and adjustable acoustics.

“The sound is rich and balanced,” Sasser said. “The concert hall and Steinway piano both are finely tuned instruments.”

~ This press release was written by Larry Keen, assistant to President Sasser

CONTACT:

• President Jackson Sasser, 352-395-5168.
• Larry Keen, assistant to the president, 352-395-5168 or larry.keen@sfcollege.edu
• Julie Garrett, media relations, for assistance facilitating your story, 352-870-2924 (cell) or 352-395-5430 (office) or julie.garrett@sfcollege.edu