October 15, 2009

Help welcome WSU's new 'adopted' pianos

The WSU School of Music will welcome five new Yamaha pianos with faculty and student performances and light refreshments at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the lobby of Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center. The free event is also a celebration of the College of Fine Arts "Adopt-A-Piano" campaign, the brainchild of longtime fine arts supporter Kelly Callen, campaign chair. RSVP to ali.levine@wichita.edu.

With generous support from Senseney Music in Wichita, donors can purchase a brand-new Yamaha piano at a price close to cost and receive a brass plaque on the donated piano in their own name or in memory of someone else.

Rodney Miller, dean of the College of Fine Arts, said that, for comparison, the five shiny new pianos will be joined by five of the "worst practice pianos" among the 25 in use by students and faculty.

It's a wonderful opportunity to see, and hear, how much difference a new piano can make, said Miller.

Members of Callen's "Adopt-A-Piano" committee are co-chair Denny Senseney, Justus Fugate, Delmar Klocke, Anita Jones and Shoko Sevart.