University of Mobile (UMobile) music students crowded outside the Martin Hall office of Kadisha Onalbayeva, professor and Steinway Artist in the UMobile Center for Performing Arts. A Steinway grand piano was on its side in the middle of the small room, students and professors itching to test the keys once the piano was set atop its legs.
Finally the moment came.
“Okay — let’s go play, everybody,” Onalbayeva said, and students poured into the room to take turns playing on a piano recognized worldwide for its quality and beautiful tones.
This was the first of nine Steinway pianos delivered Jan. 21 to excited music students and faculty. The pianos were purchased with donations to the university’s “All Steinway, All Together” fundraising campaign.
The delivery marks the halfway point in the fundraising campaign that aims to replace old pianos with state-of-the-art Steinway pianos and earn the university the prestigious designation as an All-Steinway School.
Will Carpenter, a junior majoring in music/business from Mobile, said the donations that made the pianos possible have an eternal impact.
‘Donation to ministry’
“For a school like ours, we are here to honor and glorify God. It’s not just a donation to a school — it’s a donation to a ministry” preparing students whose aim is to glorify God through music, Carpenter said.
Roger Breland, executive director of the UMobile Center for Performing Arts/School of Music and School of Worship Leadership, said gaining the designation of an All-Steinway School increases the university’s ability to recruit gifted student musicians.
“If we strive for excellence on the platform, we must have excellence in the practice room,” Breland said.
For more information about the “All Steinway, All Together” campaign, go to umobile.edu/Steinway or call 251-442-2412.
(UMobile)
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