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Loughborough Endowed Schools are the first in the Midlands to receive ‘All Steinway School’ status -
Teachers and students at the schools' 22 of the highest calibre pianos on which to learn, practise and perform -
Loughborough Endowed Schools’ Head of Keyboard Melanie Reinhard and Director of Music Richard West
Loughborough are one of only 13 independent schools in the UK and 170 establishments worldwide to hold the coveted title of ‘All Steinway School’, which will see them working in partnership with Steinway and Sons, makers of the world’s finest pianos.
The Foundation, which includes Loughborough Grammar, Loughborough High, Fairfield Preparatory and Our Lady’s Convent School, made a major commitment to music education with the establishment of the impressive, purpose-built LES Music School in 2006.
With the status, LES will provide teachers and students with 22 of the highest calibre pianos on which to learn, practise and perform.
The four grand pianos were carefully selected by staff who visited the Steinway factory in Hamburg to handpick the instruments. Steinway and Sons has been crafting pianos for over 160 years, with each grand piano taking nearly a year to create.
The pianos will be officially handed over to the school on 24 September and to celebrate the arrival, a special piece of music for 22 pianos has been commissioned and will be performed by pupils in the recital hall on the day of delivery.
Richard West, director of music at LES explained it was a real honour to become one of only a handful of schools in the UK to offer its students exclusive use of these instruments. He said: “It is really exciting to become an All-Steinway School and to be part of such a prestigious musical family. It shows our commitment to nurturing the musical talents of our pupils and our journey to becoming a centre of musical excellence.
“Achieving All-Steinway School status gives us access to a range of extraordinary benefits including regular access to Steinway Hall in London for our pupils to give high profile recitals.”
The 22 new pianos include two Model B grands and two Model AS grands. The other instruments will be a selection of Steinway, Boston and Essex pianos, providing pupils with unparalleled facilities on which to learn.
Richard added: “I can’t wait to hear our school halls filled with the sound of these fantastic musical instruments.”
