The goal is more than 65 pianos. The cost is $4 million. The campaign to make West Virginia University’s School of Music an All-Steinway School is under way.

As part of the School of Music’s effort to become an All-Steinway School—using Steinway pianos exclusively—James Miltenberger and several other faculty and guest musicians will present a special “Steinway Campaign Concert,” Sunday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the Creative Arts Center.

Miltenberger, a legendary musician who is celebrating his 50th year teaching at WVU, is a classical and jazz pianist who has toured the world. His former students are also performing and teaching all over the world.

The program will include both classical and jazz compositions. One of the classical works is the world premiere of a piece called “Sonata for Piano and Computer” that was written by Gil Trythall, former dean of the College of Creative Arts and WVU music professor emeritus.

For the jazz portion of the show, Miltenberger will be joined by the Miltenberger Jazz Quartet and music faculty members Keith Jackson, trombonist and director of the School of Music; Paul Scea, director of the Jazz Studies program, who performs on a variety of instruments; Michael Vercelli, percussionist and director of the World Music and Performance Center, and Al Wrublesky, percussionist and part-time faculty member in the School of Music, who also performs extensively in the Pittsburgh area.

Special guests returning to the CAC for this performance include former saxophone professor Curtis Johnson, who performs professionally in the Pittsburgh area, and music alumnus and trumpet player James Moore, who is in the doctoral program in Jazz Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and is currently assistant professor of music at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Moore graduated from the WVU School of Music in 2003.

Also performing will be music alumni Scott Green on bass and Kevin Lloyd on drums. Green earned master’s and doctoral degrees in composition and teaches in Randolph county, W.Va. Lloyd earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in percussion and teaches in Frederick County, Md.

WVU vocal student Anna Lama will join the Miltenberger Jazz Quartet during the second half of the concert.

The concert will also include remarks by College of Creative Arts Dean Paul Kreider and Director of Music Keith Jackson, and there will be a special tribute to Miltenberger.

A public reception will be held in the CAC main lobby following the concert.

Tickets are $25 each and are available by calling the WVU School of Music at 304-293-5511, or visiting the School of Music Office in Room 416A or the College of Creative Arts Business Office in Room 302A, weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The “All Keyed Up” campaign to purchase more than 65 new Steinway pianos for the WVU School of Music is an initiative being led by Miltenberger and other members of the WVU Keyboard faculty.

A recent inventory showed that 70 percent of the pianos at the CAC are at least 30 years old. Therefore, the college is committed to raising $4 million to purchase more than 65 new Steinway pianos.

Becoming an All-Steinway school will also allow the WVU School of Music to draw upon illustrious Steinway artists worldwide for master classes and performances at WVU.

The All-Steinway initiative is sponsored through the WVU Foundation, in conjunction with the regional representative for Steinway & Sons in Pittsburgh.

Anyone unable to attend the March 18 concert may still contribute to the purchase of the new Steinway pianos by visiting www.mountaineerconnection/Creative_Arts and selecting “All Steinway Campaign” from the drop down menu.

For more information about contributing to the “All Keyed Up” initiative, contact Director of Development Glenn Rosswurm in the College of Creative Arts Dean’s Office, at 304-293-4331 or Glenn.Rosswurm@mail.wvu.edu.

For more information about the Steinway Campaign Concert, call the College of Creative Arts at 304-293-4359 or 304-293-5511.

To see more on Miltenberger’s 50 years at WVU, go here.

-WVU-

cl/3/5/12

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.