The first delivery of Steinway Pianos are delivered to Westfield State University by Quality Moving, who specialize in moving 200 Steinways a year. (Westfield State University photo)
WESTFIELD – On Thursday, eight Steinway grand pianos were delivered to the Catherine Dower Center for the Performing and Fine Arts, the first of a total shipment of 20 Steinway pianos. With the pianos, Westfield State University will be the only public institution in New England to become an All-Steinway School, one of only 200 worldwide with that distinction.
“It’s super exciting,” said Andrew Bonacci, chair of the Music Department at Westfield State.
It’s also the culmination of a four-year effort by Bonacci that began with the goal of getting a single Steinway concert grand piano for the Dever stage, at a cost of $180,000. When Catherine Dower, professor emerita of music history and literature, donated $1 million to the university in November of 2015 to establish the Catherine Dower Performing and Fine Arts Center, she also gave a challenge grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds to purchase a concert grand piano.
Bonacci said he hadn’t succeeded in getting the remaining funds, until he began working with a generous anonymous donor who wanted to make a difference and honor Catherine Dower. Dower passed away in February just after the Catherine Dower Center opened its doors.
Dr. Andrew Bonacci, chair of the Music Department, plays a Steinway Boston piano, one of smaller grand pianos, in a practice room. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The donor knew about All-Steinway Schools, and asked Bonacci about it. At the memorial service in Dower’s honor in May, the donor’s gift of $1 million for pianos, and $100,000 to go into an account for annual maintenance of the instruments was announced.
“It was such an amazing transformational gift. One I never dreamed would take place in my career,” Bonacci said. The donation has allowed the school to purchase twenty pianos – thirteen grands of different sizes and models, and seven uprights – all Steinway. Each piano is made out of organic material, by hand, Bonacci said.
Steinway pianos are made by hand out of organic material, and every part is beautiful. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The eight that arrived on Thursday were the smaller model grands, Model M’s, O’s and A’s, and two Steinway Boston pianos, which are smaller practice pianos. On August 23, Bonacci along with his colleagues and several students will go to the factory in Astoria, Queens and select four concert grands. Two will be 7-foot Model B’s, and two will be the 9-foot flagship Steinway D concert grand pianos, one to grace the Dever stage, and one for the recital room in the Catherine Dower center.
Seven Steinway upright pianos will also be delivered in two weeks that will go into practice rooms and classrooms, completing the delivery.
“Now we’re in a new facility that is climate-controlled, and we have a larger budget. It is incredible that we’re starting fresh with an entire fleet of pianos,” Bonacci said. He said the old pianos, which ranged in age to 100 years, will go into storage.
Brendan Murphy, vice president of M. Steinert & Sons, the second oldest Steinway dealership in the world. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Brendan Murphy, vice president of M. Steinert & Sons, the second oldest Steinway dealer in the world, was also on hand Thursday to watch the first pianos arrive. “I really do believe this is going to be a game changer for the school,” Murphy said. He said being the first state institution to be an All-Steinway School, and giving students’ access to the best equipment for performances, in music classrooms and in practice rooms, “it’s huge,” he said.
A Steinway Model A grand piano was placed in the dance rehearsal room. All the pianos have high glass finish which is more durable and usually reserved for concert grand pianos. (Photo by Amy Porter)
”It’s a way to distinguish an organization’s commitment to excellence. With the best equipment, you can attract and retain the best faculty, and better applications,” Murphy added..
Bonacci explained that while all music students study piano, the university currently has ten piano majors. He said most students entering college need good grades and good test scores. Music majors already have several years of training, making the pool of applicants much smaller. He said the new facility and the new equipment positions the university to be more competitive in recruiting these students.
“This is an unbelievable gift that will transform the music department. I still can’t believe it,” Bonacci said.
