SCHEIDT SCHOOL OF MUSIC STRIKES A CHORD WITH A HAND-SELECTED STEINWAY
A new Steinway Model D elevates the U of M’s musical excellence
MEMPHIS, TN - This fall, the University of Memphis’s Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center welcomed a new Steinway Model D, a major enhancement to the School of Music.
After years of planning, this prestigious concert grand now graces the Plough Foundation Performance Hall, elevating the school’s piano offerings.
ALSO FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
ELAINE HARRIS INDUCTED INTO STEINWAY HALL OF FAME
NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE RAISES FUNDS FOR NEW SPIRIO
MISSISSIPPI DELTA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADDS
8 BOSTON PIANOS
Dr. Artina McCain, Amy Nguyen, and Dr. Kevin Sanders, University of Memphis; Gabe Statom, Institutional Keyboard Rep.
The addition of the Steinway Model D was a careful undertaking by the University of Memphis. Dr. Artina McCain, associate professor of piano, was instrumental in the selection process. “We are thrilled to introduce this Steinway Model D to our performance hall,” said McCain. “This piano will greatly enhance the musical experiences of our students, faculty, and the wider Memphis concert community.”
Dr. McCain, along with Amy Nguyen, the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music’s collaborative pianist, and Gabriel Statom, the instituional sales director at Amro Music Stores, traveled to the Steinway & Sons Factory in Queens, N.Y., to hand-select the perfect piano. “We evaluated various Steinway Model D pianos to find the one that best meets the needs of our students and the broader community,” McCain explained. “The Model D provides an unparalleled level of artistry and sound quality, allowing our students to explore new dimensions in their performances.”
The Steinway selected by the university is one of only three thousand pianos hand-built each year by the factory in New York.
This new, hand-selected Steinway Model D will play a central role in a series of upcoming concerts and events at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center.
These upcoming shows will offer the U of M’s students, alumni, and the public a chance to experience the sound of a Steinway, and also support the university’s commitment to musical excellence, in a city that’s steeped in musical history. Additionally, the university is working on further improvements to its facilities, such as the creation of a new recording studio and additional practice rooms for students. The university ‘s music therapy program was even recently accredited by the American Music Therapy Assocation.
Dr. McCain is enthusiastic about all of the current developments happening around campus, noting, “We’re in a truly exciting time at the University of Memphis. There’s a lot of energy and anticipation surrounding these changes.”
Gabriel Statom, Institutional Sales Director with Amro Music also added, “The University of Memphis is a key university for piano pedagogy in the state and is the only college in Tennessee that offers a doctorate in piano performance. The quality of students and teachers
at the U of M is equal to the Steinway reputation and level of performance.”
“This piano will greatly enhance the musical experiences of our students, faculty, and the wider Memphis concert community.“
-Dr. Artina McCain
As the university continues to advance its music program at the Scheidt School of Music and engage with the local arts community in Memphis, the new Steinway Model D stands as a testament to its commitment to fostering a rich, dynamic environment for musical growth and performance.
Amy Nguyen, Dr. Artina McCain, and Dr. Kevin Sanders, University of Memphis; in the conditioning room at the Steinway & Sons Factory
DR. ELAINE HARRISS INDUCTED TO STEINWAY HALL OF FAME
Dr. Elaine Harriss, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Music, has been honored with induction into the Steinway & Sons Teachers Hall of Fame. This prestigious designation, awarded to North America’s most dedicated and passionate piano educators, recognizes her exceptional contributions to music education over more than 50 years. The induction ceremony took place on October 6, 2023, at the historic Steinway factory in Astoria, New York.
Dr. Harriss’s teaching career began as an undergraduate student in Nashville and extended through her time in Monroe, Louisiana, where her late
husband, Dr. Ernest Harris II, taught at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Her journey continued in 1970 when she joined the faculty at UT Martin.
Reflecting on her long career, Dr. Harriss said, “To be a good teacher, you must know how to work with people of different ages and levels, and you need to know how they learn; then, you can tailor your approach for each student. Every person has different ways of learning, and the good teacher works to find the best way to help them achieve their goals.”
Dr. Harriss earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Peabody College for Teachers,
now part of Vanderbilt University, and completed her doctorate at the University of Michigan. Throughout her illustrious career, she has guided countless students to success, with many winning competitions in the Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA), earning high school diplomas in music through the National Guild of Piano Teachers, and being selected for Tennessee’s and Kentucky’s Governor’s Schools for the Arts.
Her commitment to music education extends beyond the classroom. Dr. Harriss has served as the state director for TMTA’s spring and fall competitions for students from kindergarten through college, a role she has held for many years. At UT Martin, she runs a weeklong piano camp for middle and high school students each summer and directs the university’s piano competition for pre-college students.
Nominated by Amro Music, Dr. Harriss is one of 67 teachers from the United States and Canada who were inducted into the Steinway & Sons Music Teacher Hall of Fame last fall. Each inductee is part of the Steinway Teacher & Educational Partner Program (STEP), a program that fosters relationships between piano instructors and Steinway & Sons, providing them with access to workshops, concerts, masterclasses, and unique opportunities in the field of piano education.
“...you must know
how to work
with
people of different ages
and levels...the good
teacher works to find the best way to help them achieve their goals.”
-Dr. Elaine Harriss
“Music education has been a cornerstone of our historic company since the late 1800s, and today is no different,” said Gavin English, President of Steinway & Sons Americas. “These teachers foster passion, creativity, and discipline in the next generation of piano artists. Their work deserves the highest praise.”
Recalling her early years of teaching during the late 1960s, Dr. Harriss shared, “When I said, ‘The color of my students’ skin is not important... they made a place for me...That was a good experience in my life.”
Dr. Harriss’s name is now displayed on alongsisde other great educators inside the Steinway factory, a testament to her lifelong dedication to music education and her significant impact on the lives of all of her students. “Teaching is hard work because you must be aware of all those things. That is why I enjoy teaching so much,” she said.
Dr. Elaine Harris, professor of Music at University of Tennessee Martin
NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE RAISES
FUNDS FOR NEW STEINWAY
SPIRO R
SPIRIO | R GRAND PIANO
Ray Harris, Head of Fine Arts
Booneville, MS - Northeast Mississippi Community College is celebrating after a succesful campaign by their alumni association to bring a brand-new, Steinway & Sons Spirio R to their campus.
The campaign, called 88 Keys, began in August of 2022, with the goal of purchasing a state-of-the-art Steinway for the fine arts department. After 2 years and help from over 30 sponsors, the foundation was able to raise over $180,000.
“The partnership with the foundation and the music department has been a wonderful one,” said Gabe Statom with Amro Music. “Patrick Eaton, Tiffany Johnson, and Lexi Fields worked hard to establish donors and events to help make the Spirio a reality.”
The Spirio R is the world’s finest highresolution piano player, capable of live performance capture and playback.
“From the classroom, to the fine arts, we’re here to help students move forward to their full potential,” said Dr. Ricky Ford, President of NEMCC.
“With the Steinway Spirio R, we can move closer to this goal.”
Instrumental in these additions has been Dr. Ray Harris, head of Fine Arts at NEMCC. “Dr. Ray Harris has been the champion to keep the momentum going towards their goals with the pianos at Northeast,” said Statom. “He has a kind and gentle demeanor and sets a wonderful tone in the music department at NEMCC.”
FEATURES
• Integrated Spirio | r System for High-Resolution Reproduction and Recording
• Live Performance Playback and Capture
• Seamless Integration with the Spirio App for Access to a Curated Music Library
• Onboard Storage for Custom and Favorite Performances
• Advanced Software Updates for New Features and Content
Dr.
at Northeast Mississippi Community College, playing on the new Steinway Spirio R
MDCC NEARS ALL-STEINWAY STATUS WITH 8 BOSTONS
Moorhead, MS - After several years of hard work, Mississppi Delta Community College is nearing its goal of achieving the status of an “AllSteinway School,” by replacing all pianos on campus with the Steinway brand. This status is given to schools who demonstate a commitment to excellence by providing their students and faculties with the best equipment possible.
After purchasing their first upright Steinway, the faculty at MDCC was invited to the Steinway & Sons Factory in New York. “As an artist the factory was such an eye opener for me. To see the quality and craftmanship that is put into each instrument was inspiring,” said Jennifer Woodard, an Instructor
and the Chair of Fine Arts at MDCC.
Seeing the work that goes into creating timeless instruments that carry the Steinway brand, the college made the decision to make additional upgrades to their campus. With tremendous support from the MDCC business office, the college was able to purchase eight new Boston pianos as upgrades for their practice studios and choir program.
“We chose Boston because of the affordability and quality of the pianos,” said Woodard. Boston is a sister brand of Steinway & Sons, made using Steinway’s expertise and patents, and are inteded to offer a similar high-quality playing experience at a more affordable price.
Currently, the college is one piano short of hitting their All-Steinway goal. “We’re trying to raise money for a Steinway Sons Grand Piano. It is a large goal, but we are committed to getting this piano for MDCC’s students, faculty, and community,” said Woodard. “Gabe Statom and Amro have been supportive since the beginning of this project.”
Working closely with the college through the whole process was Gabe Statom, Insitiuational Sales Director with Amro Music. “Mississippi Delta Community College is a growing college in the heart of the Delta. The folks there have been steadfast and amazing in their commitment to excellence for the students and music department at MDCC.”
educators RESOURCES FOR MUSIC
GABE STATOM
Institutional Sales Director 901.834.8300 gabestatom@amromusic.com
Schools demonstrate a commitment to excellence and an unparalleled educational experience by providing their students with the rich, unrivaled sound, incomparable tone,and pristine touch of STEINWAY & SONS pianos. These pianos inspire students to realize their artistic talents, and best prepare them to compete at the highest level in the professional world.
Whether you are interested in one piano or a hundred, Amro Music has a program to assist you. As an Institutional Sales Specialist, Gabe serves the needs of all institutions,ensuring that they are able to provide their students, faculty,visiting artists, congregations, and customers with pianos designed by STEINWAY & SONS, enabling us to meet all requirements within all budgets. Amro Music is devoted to partnering with you and your institution to help you acquire and maintain the best instruments the world has to offer.
HIGHER EDUCATION K-12
Amro Music and STEINWAY & SONS are devoted to partnering with you and your educational institution to help you acquire and maintain the best instruments. Our institutional sales specialist, Gabe Statom, can offer customized resources that have a proven success record for managing piano inventories in colleges, universities and conservatories of all sizes. These include:
• Inventory Analysis and Planning Tools
• Fundraising Programs for Donor Cultivation
• The All-Steinway School program
• Leasing-to-Own Options
• Technical Service Guidelines
• Factory Seminars for Technicians
• Selection Room Access at the Steinway Factory
Whether your school is a private day school or boarding institution or part of a public school district, we have a program to assist you. Amro Music and STEINWAY &SONS are devoted to partnering with you and your school to help you acquire, manage, and maintain the best instruments the world has to offer. Our Educational Services Specialist has developed unique and customized resources for managing your piano inventory:
• Inventory Analysis
• Fundraising Programs
• Lease-To-Own Program
• Technical Service Guidelines
• Technician Seminars
• Steinway Scholarship Program
• Selection Room Access
• Steinway Factory Tours
Gabe Statom of Amro Music with Jennifer Woodard, and Ben Folk of Mississippi Delta Community College and 8 new Boston upright pianos
