Nearly two years ago, Prairie View A&M University purchased 28 Steinway pianos, making it one of a dozen schools in Texas to hold the distinction of being “An All-Steinway School.”
“The previous pianos were here before the building
Around the same time of PVAMU receiving the pianos, the university celebrated 100 years of Music being an official major on “The Hill,” and Dr. Danny R. Kelley, a pianist and dean of the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, hosted a concert to commemorate the occasion.
“After the concert, Dean Kelley and I really wanted to expand on PV being ‘An All-Steinway School,’” said Phillips. “So, we came up with the Tuesday Afternoon Concert Series at 2 p.m., which is open to anyone who wants to come and see what we do in the arts.”
According to Phillips, each guest is invited to PVAMU, with an accompanist or as a soloist, to play on a Steinway piano.
“The more you play these pianos, the better they become,” said Phillips. “They are like a fine wine. They get better with time.”
This fall, pianist Gustavo Romero and tenor Leo Day kicked off the series. This coming spring, pianist Nicole Narboni, violinist Tami Lee Hughes, jazz pianist Arlington Jones, pianist Timothy Hester, and pianists Michelle and Kimberly Cann, will “wow” the crowds in the Dr. H. Edison Anderson Recital Hall.
“The overall lineup is a wonderful opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and the Prairie View community to get exposed to what musicians from all over the country are doing, and it doesn’t cost you a thing,” said Phillips. “If anyone reads this article and they have just an inkling of a desire to venture further into what these concerts will be about, then pick a concert, and come be a part of the audience. I guarantee we’ll make them concert-goers.”
For more information about the Tuesday Afternoon Concert Series, call 936-261-3335.
###
-This story by Marchita Shilo originally appeared in Academic Insights.