MSU commemorates All-Steinway School status with public ceremony
Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum, right, shakes hands with Steinway Piano District Sales Manager Chris Gilbert during MSU's All-Steinway School Celebration. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs
Music filled the air last Friday [Aug. 30] as Mississippi State celebrated its achievement of the prestigious All-Steinway School status with a public ceremony.
Now among an elite group of institutions holding the acclaimed distinction globally, MSU is one of less than 250 conservatories, colleges, universities and schools solely using pianos designed by Steinway & Sons for practice, instruction and performance.
“This is a historic day for Mississippi State to be designated as an All-Steinway School,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “All the things we’re doing here at Mississippi State are because of the great people we have here as part of our university. That makes today even more of a celebration for all of us.
“Making Steinway pianos the standard of our music department lets prospective and current students know that we are serious about music at Mississippi State and that we are serious about quality at Mississippi State. This gives our students an opportunity to have access to the finest and best instruments in the world,” Keenum added.
The milestone marks the completion of the university’s All-Steinway Initiative fundraising campaign that began in 2012 and formally launched in 2014. Since then, MSU has acquired 50 Steinway pianos with more than $3.5 million in funds from 142 donors, including the donation of the Spirio | r, a masterpiece gifted by major MSU All-Steinway Initiative donors Bob and Kathy Olsen.
“We would not be here today without the generosity and support of our alumni and friends who were passionate about this effort,” Keenum said.
He also praised the music faculty’s efforts in achieving the designation, including Professor of Music and Steinway Artist Rosângela Sebba -- one of the university’s most recent Grisham Master Teacher recipients.
“For us to have our very own Steinway Artist exemplifies again the quality we have and will continue to have in this department,” Keenum said. “Thanks to their determination, the music program has continued to expand. MSU is a place for musicians and where performing arts are thriving.”
In 2022, the Department of Music opened its 37,000-square-foot Music Building, which includes classrooms, a choral rehearsal hall, sound-proof practice rooms, a high-tech recording studio and an acoustically advanced lecture recital hall. Each practice room now holds a Steinway piano.
“I am incredibly proud of Mississippi State University's commitment to excellence in the arts,” said Teresa Jayroe, dean of the College of Education. “Achieving All-Steinway School status is a testament to our dedication to providing our students and faculty with the finest instruments for their practice and performances. This milestone reflects the generosity of our donors and the hard work of everyone involved in the All-Steinway Initiative. Our new Steinway pianos will elevate the quality of music education and performance at MSU for years to come.”
MSU’s College of Education is home to five academic departments, a division of education, one research unit and numerous service units. Learn more about its Department of Music at www.educ.msstate.edu.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.
Bethany Shipp | College of Education
