Mid-South Steinway Chronicle 2021-22

2021 - 2022

VOL. 1

THE MID-SOUTH STEINWAY

CHRONICLE INSTITUTIONAL NEWS FROM AMRO MUSIC AND STEINWAY & SONS

Thomas Ardrey, Choral Director at Oxford High School in Oxford, MS.

IN THIS ISSUE

OXFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FIRST IN MISSISSIPPI TO ATTAIN STEINWAY SELECT DESIGNATION

OXFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FIRST IN MISSISSIPPI TO ATTAIN STEINWAY SELECT DESIGNATION OXFORD, MS (April 28, 2021) – Steinway & Sons

A PATRON OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

announces the addition of Oxford School District

MAKES COLLIERVILLE A STEINWAY

to its elite roster of Steinway Select K-12 School

SELECT SCHOOL

ITAWAMBA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Districts. The designation recognizes those K-12 schools

and

school

districts

that,

through

acquisition of the finest pianos in the world for instruction, practice, and performance, have made

INSTALLS A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART

a commitment to the highest standards of quality

DIGITAL PIANO LAB

in musical education. With the purchase of seven

MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY

new Steinway and Steinway-Designed pianos— including the remarkable Steinway Spirio | r high resolution player piano—Oxford School District

COLLEGE UPGRADES THEIR

has become the first district in Mississippi to

RECORDING STUDIO

achieve Steinway Select status.

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The seeds for the district to achieve this unique designation were sown upon the completion of Oxford High School’s new performing arts center last year. The new two-story, 42,000 square-foot space features state-of-the-art facilities, equipment,

classrooms,

and

technology.

District

administrators and school staff quickly recognized that the school’s existing piano inventory was sub-par, and upon examining the pianos in the district’s other K-12 schools, district leadership was quickly on board to support the growing school district with a commitment to acquire highquality pianos. Oxford School District worked with Amro Music Stores, Inc., in Memphis to identify and purchase six new Steinway-Designed Boston grand and upright pianos as well as the showstopping Steinway Spirio | r for Oxford High School’s new facility.

The Spirio | r is a particularly exciting addition to the district’s music programs, noted Amro’s Institutional Sales Director Gabe Statom. “Students in music and choral programs at the high school now have more resources than ever before,” he said. “With the Spirio | r functioning as an accompanist, faculty are free to move around the room and engage more productively with students. Faculty and students can also access Spirio’s extensive library of music and videos. It’s a very exciting addition to the district’s music curricula.”

“Having the ability to record accompaniments and introduce my students to wonderful performances in my classroom every day has been amazing,” said Thomas Ardrey, Choral Director at Oxford High School. “Our new Model B Spirio | r has elevated the quality of our performances, and it will remain one of the greatest aspects of our program for years to come.”

Marsha Morgan, Music Teacher at Della Davidson Elementary

“The Oxford School District has a long history of supporting the arts in any discipline,” said Brian Harvey, Oxford School District Superintendent. “It is a pleasure to partner with Steinway and Amro on the purchase of new pianos for all of our schools. We will forever cherish our designation as a Steinway Select School District.”

Natalie Lewellen, Music Teacher at Central Elementary

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A PATRON OF PUBLIC EDUCATION MAKES COLLIERVILLE A STEINWAY SELECT SCHOOL

Team members at Pickler Companies - Collierville, TN

COLLIERVILLE, TN (November 28, 2018) – David Pickler’s love of music began early in life. Growing up in Jonesboro, Arkansas, his living room was anchored by a beautiful baby grand piano. His mother, Marilynn Robinson Pickler, a highly accomplished vocalist and theatrical performer, reached the pinnacle of her career by landing the leading role in a local production of Mame. They sang together in their church choir and he pursued his own aspirations by performing in local shows.

“While I did not learn to play as a child, the powerful impact of the music from that piano created an indelible impact on my consciousness,” he said. That same passion was rekindled about seven years ago, when he was asked by a cousin to assist their alma mater, Arkansas State University, in becoming a Steinway Select School.

“I left that day with a new entry on my bucket list – to own a Steinway.”

The project connected him to a longtime friend, Rick Jefferies, the head of the piano division at Amro Music in Memphis. Pickler joined a contingent of university personnel for an unforgettable trip to the Steinway factory in Queens.

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“I was captivated by the incredible attention to detail and the absolute dedication to quality,” he recalled “The pursuit of musical perfection seemed to be the guiding force behind every step of the process. I was particularly intrigued by the melding of superb craftsmanship of traditional piano construction with the evolution of advanced materials, engineering enhancements and technological developments that creates the timeless magic of a Steinway piano. I left that day with a new entry on my bucket list – to own a Steinway.”

Pickler would go on to fund the acquisition of several

new

Steinways

for

the

university.

“While I was pleased to assist in this noble endeavor, my personal goal had not been achieved,” he said. That changed four years ago when he asked Jeffries about placing a new Steinway in the conference room of his Pickler Wealth Advisors office in Collierville.

Space considerations made a Steinway S grand

David Pickler, Pickler Wealth Management.

piano, with an added player feature, the perfect choice.

“Once this gorgeous work of musical art was delivered, I added another goal. Eventually, I want to learn to play it,” he mused. A concert series he developed for the business provides wonderful opportunities for local artists and amazing musical experiences for his clients.

“A Steinway is the perfect reflection of a joint commitment to excellence and the power of the dream to give every student the ability to fulfill their potential.”

Active in public education for 30 years, he served as president of the National School Boards Association and established the American Public Education Foundation as a powerful advocate for K-12 students. On September 11, 2016, the Foundation organized a unique celebration when more than five million students across the country rose from their desks to sing the “Star Spangled Banner,” accompanied by a Steinway piano from an elementary school in Queens.

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Most recently, he cast his eyes toward making the $94 million Collierville High School a Steinway Select School. “Our new community school was designed to be a place where dreams could be realized, and where all students could build a pathway to success whether in academics, athletics, vocational certification or the arts,” he said.

“While developing plans for a state-of-the-art auditorium, I became aware of the need for pianos for classrooms and performances, so I reached out to my good friends at Amro Music. Rick had retired but his role was most ably filled by Gabe Statom. Gabe began the work that made our dream a reality.”

The 1,000 seat Pickler Auditorium demanded nothing less than a New York Steinway Model D concert grand piano. “Today, Collierville is a shining example of excellence in education. A Steinway Model D concert grand is the perfect reflection of a joint commitment to excellence and the power of the dream to give every student the ability to fulfill their potential,” he said.

Left to right: Gabe Statom, Amro Music; David Pickler, Pickler Wealth Management; Bruce Levingston, Steinway Artist; John Aitken, Superintendent of Collierville Schools; Chip Blanchard, Collierville High School Principal; Pat Averwater, Amro Music.

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ITAWAMBA COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSTALLS A STATE-OF-THE-ART DIGITAL PIANO LAB FULTON, MS (March 24, 2021) - The music program at Itawamba Community College regularly has about twenty to thirty music majors,

mainly

from

the

northeast

Mississippi area.

They offer both instrumental and choral tracks,

however,

several

students

are

involved in both.

Anna Sherrill, piano instructor at ICC, teaches Class Piano I-IV, which are required for all music majors. She also accompanies the choir and all of the students. When thinking about the impact of the new digital piano lab, Anna said, "We use the lab system in every class, every day. That has been the best part of my teaching so far...being able to use this lab system...because the students themselves are now more confident to make mistakes.

“Because of the digital piano lab technology, everyone is able to hear each other playing at the same time. So, if someone plays something incorrectly, they're immediately able to self-correct and keep going with the rest of the class.”

Besides student success, another benefit to the new digital piano lab at ICC is the upgraded experience that they're offering to their music majors. The equipment and the resources that are available on campus are now on par with 4-year colleges and universities.

The use of a digital piano lab also enables students to have differentiated instruction based on their own learning needs. Instructors can provide one-on-one coaching during class to students who may need extra help without disturbing the other class members who are working independently.

The updated technology has also allowed the students and faculty at ICC to maintain social distancing and still have effective and meaningful piano instruction safely during the pandemic.

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MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE UPGRADES THEIR RECORDING STUDIO MOORHEAD, MS (August 18, 2019) - At Mississippi Delta Community College, the Fine Arts Department offers several opportunities for students interested in studying music. Students can choose between Music Performance, Music Education, or Entertainment Industry Studies. The goals of the music program at MDCC are: to provide sound guidance and thorough training for its gifted students whose goal is to

MDCC Student Dominick Bellipanni

achieve a career in professional music; to develop competent teachers in the field of Music Education; and to enrich the cultural background of the music majors, the entire student body, and the area in which the community college serves, through appreciation courses, concerts, and recitals.

Alternatively, the Entertainment Industry Studies curriculum provides instruction designed to prepare a student for a career in the Entertainment Industry. Potential careers include electronic production and design, which includes audio engineering, mastering, mixing, music directing, producing, program directing, programming, recording

engineer,

studio

manager

and

MIDI

technician;

event

production,

management, planning and technology; marketing; media development; music for game development; music online and print magazine writing, editing and publishing; music web producer; recording, which includes research, publicity, marketing, public relations and sales; sound technician, including sound design and sound operator and tours or road work, including road manager, sound technician, tour coordinator or tour publicist.

In an effort to offer performance and career-training opportunities on par with those of a four-year college, MDCC's Fine Arts Department recently invested in some new state-ofthe-art instruments for their students.

Ben Folk, Instructor of Music and Entertainment Industry Studies at MDCC shared, “Our Steinway 1098 upright is a tremendous asset for our music and entertainment industry studies programs at Mississippi Delta Community College. The piano looks and sounds great in our recording studio at MDCC. ”

“It is always exciting to see students try the piano for the first time. They really can feel and hear the quality of the piano!”

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RESOURCES FOR

M U S I C educators 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

GABE STATOM

to meet all requirements within all budgets. Amro Music is devoted

Institutional Sales Specialist 901.834.8300 gabestatom@amromusic.com

to partnering with you and your institution to help you acquire and maintain the best instruments the world has to offer.

K-12

HIGHER EDUCATION

Whether your school is a private day or boarding

Amro Music and STEINWAY & SONS are devoted to

institution or part of a public school district, we have a

partnering with you and your educational institution to

program to assist you. Amro Music and STEINWAY &

help you acquire and maintain the best instruments. Our

SONS are devoted to partnering with you and your

institutional sales specialist, Gabe, can offer customized

school to help you acquire, manage, and maintain the

resources that have a proven success record for managing

best instruments the world has to offer. Our Educational

piano

Services Specialist has developed unique and customized

conservatories of all sizes which include:

inventories

in

colleges,

universities

resources for managing your piano inventory: Inventory Analysis and Planning Tools Inventory Analysis

Fundraising Programs for Donor Cultivation

Fundraising Programs

The All-Steinway School program

Lease-To-Own Program

Leasing-to-Own Options

Technical Service Guidelines

Technical Service Guidelines

Technician Seminars

Factory Seminars for Technicians

Steinway Scholarship Program

Selection Room Access at the Steinway Factory

Selection Room Access Steinway Factory Tours

and