Jan. 29, 2007

UWF PRESENTS FIRST "ALL-STEINWAY SCHOOL" STUDENT PIANO CONCERT

PENSACOLA - The University of West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) and Department of Music will present the "All-Steinway School" Student Showcase Concert Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the CFPA Music Hall, located in Building 82. The concert will feature current UWF piano students and special guest, UWF 2006 alumnus, Martin Tate. A representative from Steinway will be in attendance to officially declare the UWF Department of Music an "All-Steinway School." A brief tour of the Music Department and the new pianos will take place during intermission, with a reception to follow the concert. The concert is free and open to the public, however reservations are recommended.

The UWF Department of Music recently announced the receipt of a significant gift from Helen Wentworth which allowed the department to purchase 18 Steinway pianos (10 grand pianos and eight uprights) and receive the prestigious designation of "All-Steinway School." The remainder of the gift will initiate a "Steinway Piano Foundation" endowment ensuring the future maintenance, repair and restoration of the pianos for many years to come. This gift represents one of the largest cash donations by a living person to the UWF Foundation.

"We coined the phrase '...On Our Way, All-Steinway School by 2008,' said Kyle Marrero, chair, Department of Music. "I don't think any of us dared to dream that one person would make all of this come to fruition. Mrs. Wentworth has made it happen! Her generosity will have the single greatest impact on the UWF Department of Music, its future growth and success. Her gift will resound through the practice rooms, teaching studios, rehearsal halls and performance venues at UWF for many years to come." 

Donations for the "Steinway Piano Foundation" endowment account are still being accepted and will ensure that the pianos are properly cared for and maintained for generations to come. 

For more information on making a donation to the "Steinway Piano Foundation," contact the UWF Development Office at (850) 474-2758 or call the Department of Music at (850) 474-2147. For more information or to reserve free tickets, call (850) 857-6285.

For media inquiries, contact Jerre Brisky, CFPA assistant director, at (850) 857-6057 or e-mail jbrisky@uwf.edu.