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Music professor is named a Steinway Artist

Nov. 23, 2009

KALAMAZOO--A Western Michigan University professor of music has been named a Steinway Artist by the famous piano maker.

Dr. Stephen Zegree, WMU's Bobby McFerrin Professor of Jazz, was recently tabbed for the prestigious honor. To qualify for membership in this exclusive group, a Steinway Artist must be a professional pianist working at a college or university or performing for a living, must own a Steinway personally and agree to promote and be an ambassador for Steinway & Sons wherever he or she performs.

In return, Steinway promises the artists a concert-ready Steinway wherever in the world they may appear. That service is provided by a pool of concert-ready Steinway grand pianos placed throughout the world and maintained by various Steinway stores.

For decades, Steinway has cultivated this special relationship with pianists representing a wide range of musical genres. Steinway Artists include the likes of classical musicians Lief Ove Andsnes and Lang Lang as well as jazz and pop artists like Dianna Krall, Judy Carmichael, Bruce Hornsby and Billy Joel.

Zegree was presented with the honor and a commemorative plaque at a recent Gershwin concert in the Dalton Center. The concert also celebrated WMU's quest to become an All-Steinway School and showcased the University's collection of Steinway pianos.

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Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

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