Illinois Wesleyan University is receiving a $3.5 million gift to become an all Steinway piano music school. University Piano Technician Dave Horine said they will be buying 35 new pianos and trading in 45.
"We're going to get it to the ideal number of pianos that we need. That's in the 75 range. Right now we have 99 pianos in the school of music. Most of them are over 50 years old and quite a few of them are over 100 years old," Horine said.
Keyboard Department Head Ilya Radaslovov said becoming an all Steinway music school is a rare thing. Only 153 music departments have done it worldwide.
"This is a dream come true. Steinway is and has always been synonymous with quality, and so this will be a way to re-energize our recruiting efforts," said Radaslovav.
“Steinway congratulates Illinois Wesleyan University on this monumental step toward becoming an All-Steinway School,” said Steinway & Sons President Ron Losby. “This generous gift from the C.B. Frevert Family Trust will help to create a superior environment for the study of music and will help to enrich the lives of piano students—and everyone their music touches—for many years to come. This is truly a great day for music at IWU.”
The gift comes from the C.B. Frevert Family Trust. Frevert was a graduate of IWU who lived and farmed near Stanford. A third of the gift will fund music scholarships.
Horine said most top concert pianists prefer Steinway pianos.
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