Jefferson College is holding a fundraising event to raise money for a $100,000 grand piano. The “Pianomania” event will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Fine Arts Center, 1000 Viking Drive, in Hillsboro.
Elke Overton, professor of music at Jefferson College, said the college was able to get a good deal on the refurbished 9-foot Steinway grand piano.
“The idea of getting the piano came from our piano instructor Cathy Benton who said it would be really wonderful to have a full concert grand Steinway for the students and for our guest artists who come to the college,” she said. “That led me to reaching out to Gerry Malzone from the Steinway Piano Gallery, and he found us a screaming deal on this particular used piano.
“They are moving the piano here for this event, and we will basically have it on loan in the hopes of eventually by (April), getting it paid down and being able to raise these funds.”
Mark Spurrier, a local retired ophthalmologist and event organizer, said a full-size Steinway grand piano would be a great thing for the college’s fine arts program.
“(There are) multiple reasons: One is that it will help attract artists from the St. Louis region and beyond to come and give recitals and program ... it really matters what kind of instrument you have for such a thing,” he said.
“Also, it will be a real shot in the arm to students who will get enormous encouragement by just being able to touch and work with a piano of this quality.”
Spurrier is a member of the Piano Society of St. Louis and has organized several other Pianomania events in Jefferson County as well as Ste. Genevieve and St. Louis counties.
This event will feature performances from more than a dozen pianists. They will use the college’s current 7-foot Yamaha piano along with the 9-foot Steinway piano.
Tickets cost $20 and VIP tickets cost $100.
The college also is accepting donations and one-year pledges.
To buy tickets or donate, visit jeffco.edu/foundation/events.