Gilmour Academy's Commitment is First in Midwest to Become a Steinway Select K-12 School
GATES MILLS, Ohio, Dec. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilmour alumnus, Matthew P. Figgie '84; The Figgie Foundation and Figgie Capital; and Kathleen C. Kenny, Gilmour Academy's Head of School, announce Gilmour Academy's commitment to become a Steinway Select K-12 School.
With the installation of these three extraordinary, world-renowned pianos, Gilmour has officially begun the process of becoming a Steinway Select K-12 School and will replace every piano on Gilmour's campus with a new Steinway & Sons grand piano.
Gilmour Academy will be one of only eight schools in the entire nation to have earned this distinction to date and Gilmour is the only private K-12 school in the Midwest to make this level of commitment.
The Steinway Select K-12 designation is bestowed on qualifying institutions that consist of kindergarten through 12th grade and is an extension of the All Steinway School honors that Steinway & Sons grants to the world's best colleges, universities, conservatories and schools of music. This investment in best-in-class equipment was made possible through a scheduled donation from Gilmour alumnus Matthew P. Figgie '84, The Figgie Foundation and Figgie Capital. "During this season of giving, I am truly honored and sincerely humbled to be able to give this heartfelt gift of the finest pianos in the world to my cherished alma mater, Gilmour Academy. These Steinway & Sons grand pianos are yet another strategic step in the overall elevation and transformation of Gilmour Academy as one of the nation's premier academic, artistic and athletic institutions of higher learning," said Mr. Figgie. "As we celebrate this wonderful partnership of distinction with Steinway & Sons, we not only shine a national and international spotlight on Gilmour Academy and its 70-year legacy of excellence, but also to its steadfast and focused commitment to the fine arts," said Mr. Figgie.
When complete, Gilmour will have 10 new Steinway & Sons grand pianos. This includes a Steinway Spirio piano for the school's historic Tudor House and a Steinway Model D Concert Grand for their future Center for the Performing Arts. This phenomenal gift allows Gilmour to provide all of its students with the very best grand pianos that exist.
Gilmour's Head of School Kathy Kenny said of the gift, "My earliest memories of Matthew P. Figgie date back to when he was a standout scholar and athlete at Gilmour. His leadership and support of Gilmour has grown throughout the decades and he is one of our most loyal and generous benefactors. He is a staunch supporter of Gilmour's commitment to excellence in all areas – in our classrooms and on the athletic fields. This most recent gift is a testament to Gilmour's and the Figgie Foundation's commitment to the arts. Our students will benefit greatly from Matthew's dedication and generosity, which will create life-changing experiences for our students. The wider community will also benefit from our expanded programming as a result of this transformative gift."
CEO and president of Steinway Piano Gallery Cleveland Ted Good said, "We are very grateful to Matthew Figgie for his generosity and amazing vision. It has been such an honor to work with Mr. Figgie and the faculty and administration at Gilmour for the selection of the Steinway pianos." He added, "For over 163 years, Steinway & Sons has followed its founder's advice to always aspire to excellence in our instruments."
More than 175 prestigious American institutions of higher learning and international conservatories throughout Europe, Asia and Africa share the All-Steinway School distinction.
About Gilmour Academy
Gilmour Academy is a Catholic, independent, coeducational, college-preparatory school. It is sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind., and offers a Montessori program beginning at 18-months-old and a Lower School, Middle School and Upper School. A boarding program is offered to students in Grades 7 through 12. It is located at 34001 Cedar Road in Gates Mills, Ohio. For more information about Gilmour Academy, visit www.gilmour.org and follow Gilmour on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Matthew P. Figgie, Figgie Capital and The Figgie Foundation
Matthew P. Figgie is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Figgie Capital, Chairman of Clark-Reliance Corporation and Chairman of The Figgie Foundation. He is also Owner and Director of a broad portfolio of private operational and financial holdings. Figgie Capital is a highly diversified financial and investment entity. Evolving from Mr. Figgie's vast experience on Wall Street, Figgie Capital encompasses global asset allocation, alternative investments, currency and commodity trading, venture capital, economic forecasting and mergers/acquisitions.
The Figgie Foundation's mission and heartfelt commitment continues to focus on supporting our community and especially helping those truly in need. The Figgie Foundation devotes its efforts on passionately supporting the needs of organizations and individuals in the areas of healthcare, education, historical preservation, children, fine arts and culture.
About STEINWAY & SONS
Since its founding in New York in 1853, STEINWAY & SONS has been considered the world's premier piano manufacturer. Known for their exceptional craftsmanship, STEINWAY & SONS pianos are built in one of two company-owned and operated factories: Astoria, New York and Hamburg, Germany. STEINWAY & SONS pianos are still constructed primarily by hand, using many of the techniques developed over 160 years ago. Today, STEINWAY & SONS also offers the Boston and Essex piano lines, Listen, a magazine for music and culture lovers, and the STEINWAY & SONS record label. For more information, visit www.steinway.com.
SOURCE Gilmour Academy
Share this article