4 March 2020
A girls’ school in York became the first school in North Yorkshire to gain the internationally recognised designation as an ‘All Steinway School’.
The Mount School York became an All-Steinway School today as the all-girl Quaker school took delivery of ten new pianos which students and staff had selected earlier in the year at Steinway Hall in London.
This exciting partnership between The Mount and Steinway and Sons gives Mount girls daily access to the highest quality pianos to practice, compose, perform and realise their artistic talents on world-class quality instruments. The Mount is now the first all-girls’ school in the North of England to receive the internationally recognised designation as an All-Steinway School. Only twenty schools in the UK currently have this accreditation, along with three conservatories and six universities.
Rachel Derbyshire, The Mount’s Head of Music, said, “We are delighted with the opportunities this investment creates for our girls. Not only will they play on the highest quality instruments, but they can look forward to working with visiting Steinway artists in addition to our wonderful specialist peripatetic teaching staff. I am proud of how our All-Steinway status reinforces our belief in the importance of creativity in girls’ education.”
The school’s Music scholars from Year 6 to College II (Upper Sixth Form) gave a special recital to unveil the new pianos, with the performance culminating in a unique ensemble using all ten pianos, before the pianos were moved to their permanent homes within the school.
Berlin in Year 8 said, “It felt good to play in the recital. The pianos were so smooth and really projected the sound. Going to Steinway Hall was a good experience. We got to see their showroom for the first time and choose the pianos for the school. We learned about how their pianos are made, which was very interesting. It takes three years to remove all of the moisture from the wood which they use for the soundboard of each piano.”
Florence in Year 6 said, “There were no tops on the pianos for the recital, so from where I sat I could see the back of the keys working, and that was really interesting. I really loved playing in the recital, even though I was nervous.”
“It was quite scary to perform in the recital but it felt amazing. The pianos are great, the pedals are so soft. Watching all ten pianos being played at once, the sound was fantastic; it sounded beautiful,” said Kyra in Year 6 who played a piece by Chopin.
As part of the All-Steinway status, girls at The Mount will also enjoy future Masterclasses with Steinway artists and opportunities to perform in the recital space at Steinway Hall.
Families who are interested in learning more about The Mount’s All Steinway status are welcome to visit the school’s Open Morning on Saturday 7 March from 10am to 12noon.
Pictured: Mount girls perform a very rare recital on all ten new Steinway pianos
https://steinway.co.uk/education/all-steinway-schools/
https://www.mountschoolyork.co.uk/mount-pianists-visit-steinway-hall/
https://www.mountschoolyork.co.uk/mount-school-york-become-steinway-school/
For any queries, please contact Vanessa Charters at The Mount School on 01904 23 23 25 or [email protected]
A List of current All Steinway Schools
CONSERVATORIES
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
London College of Music
Leeds College of Music
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
Liverpool Hope University
Royal Holloway College, University of London
University of Edinburgh
University of Leeds
University of West London
University of Wolverhampton
INDEPENDENT & STATE SCHOOLS
Ackworth School – West Yorkshire
Ashford School – Kent
Bradfield College – Berkshire
Brentwood School – Essex
Bromley High School for Girls – London
City of Edinburgh Music School – Edinburgh
Cheltenham College – Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Durham School – Durham
Gresham’s School – Norfolk
Gresham’s Prep School
The Loughborough School Foundation – Leicestershire
The Mount School York – North Yorkshire
Pangbourne College – Berkshire
Plockton High School – Scotland
St Albans School – Hertfordshire
Stowe School – Buckinghamshire
Tonbridge School – Kent
Trinity School – Croydon
Wellington School – Somerset