Donors Make Beautiful Music: Mason Becomes All-Steinway

Thanks to nearly $400,000 in private support, Mason music students now play the same pianos preferred by world-famous artists for more than a century.

Steinway & Sons has designated Mason an All-Steinway University, which means that at least 90 percent of the pianos on campus are Steinways. Steinway pianos are often the only instrument provided at professional auditions or performances. Practicing on these instruments gives Mason music students an advantage in their professional endeavors.

A consortium of donors led by Sid Dewberry, former rector of Mason’s Board of Visitors, supplied half the funds for the all-Steinway effort, with the university providing matching funds. Dewberry was inspired to lead this initiative after taking piano lessons with Linda Monson, associate chair of the Music Department and director of keyboard studies.

With this designation, Mason joins the elite company of such institutions as the Juilliard School and the Oberlin College Conservatory.