University News

Ryan & Ryan Piano Duo to Perform at WIU March 24

March 19, 2019

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MACOMB, IL – BCA will present Ryan & Ryan at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Recital Hall.
 
Ryan & Ryan is a dynamic father-son piano duo that draws upon classic and contemporary music to create enthralling concert experiences. From Rachmaninoff to Gershwin to Billy Joel, Donald and Barron Ryan combine their talents to create a dazzling blend of old and new schools.

This performance will showcase the COFAC Recital Hall's two Steinway & Sons Model D pianos. The newest of the two pianos was purchased with a donation from Herb and Nancy Strong and family in November 2017, and unveiled at a performance in April 2018. The 2017 Steinway will ultimately be housed in the Center for Performing Arts, but the School of Music faculty and staff are fortunate to be able to use it in the interim.

The WIU School of Music is on its way to becoming an All-Steinway School, a designation given to an institution by Steinway & Sons. An All-Steinway School recognizes that high quality pianos are necessary equipment for the study of music, and that becoming an All-Steinway School reflects a commitment to provide the best instruments possible.

These pianos are used by students and faculty of all music and similar disciplines and show WIU's commitment to excellence for students, faculty, staff and community. To that end, 90 percent or more of the acoustic pianos owned must be Steinway & Sons, Boston or Essex institutional models, with the goal of reaching 100 percent as instruments are replaced.

Some of the many reasons why WIU is on a mission to become an All-Steinway School include:

• Once an All-Steinway designation is achieved, Western would be the first public University in the state of Illinois to achieve this status. Being an All-Steinway School shows a commitment to students, faculty, community and excellence.

• An All-Steinway School designation would identify WIU as a regional, cultural hub.

• Being an All-Steinway School will help the WIU School of Music continue to achieve requirements of our NASM accreditation (National Association of Schools of Music).

The Steinway Project will be 100 percent donor funded. The total needed to become an All-Steinway School is $769,155. To donate, visit app.mobilecause.com/f/1gy7/n and select THE STEINWAY PROJECT from the drop-down box.

For tickets, or other information, visit westernpresents.com.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing