The Fazioli
FRIENDS embarked on a fundraising campaign to support the purchase of a rare Fazioli grand piano for the concert hall. Concert programs for the season featured such illustrious guest artists as Marvin Hamlish, Ann Koscielny, and Anton Nel, Shepherd faculty member and head of the keyboard division, Dr. Scott Beard, and students also showcased this magnificent instrument.
As soon as Music Chair, Dr. Mark McCoy, touched the keys and heard a Fazioli, he knew he was playing an incredible piano. He found the Italian piano’s construction, action and luxurious sound to be far superior to its competitors, the better-known Steinway and Boesendorfer. Immediately, he enlisted the help of The Friends of Music to develop a plan to raise the necessary funds to purchase a Fazioli for Shepherd, making it the first university on the East Coast to own one of these magnificent instruments.
Fazioli pianos are entirely handcrafted from red spruce cut from Italy’s Val di Fiemme, the same forest where Stradivarius gathered wood for his violins. The piano’s craftsman, Paolo Fazioli, chooses the wood himself, selecting the one perfect tree out of 200 that has a natural resonant quality. It takes a period of over two years to transform the timbers into instruments that have distinguished themselves by their pure and delicate pianissimo and their crisp, sonorous forte.
Corporate sponsors of the Fazioli as well as the community members that gave $1,000 were noted as FAZIOLI FOUNDERS and made possible this incredible gift to the university and its music program. Year of the Piano Events included:
October 2, 8:00 p.m.
Reynolds Hall Concert Series – Anton Nel
October 3, 1:00 p.m.
Masterclass – Anton Nel
November 6, 8:00 p.m.
Reynolds Hall Concert Series – Dr. Scott Beard
December 6, 7:30 p.m.
Holiday Gala Concert and Reception
February 5, 8:00 p.m.
Reynolds Hall Concert Series – Lecture Performance - Dr.
Laura Renninger
February 7, 6:30 p.m.
Fazioli Fundraiser Dinner – Men’s Club
Entertainment provided by the Shepherd University Dept of
Music
March 5-6
Grand Opening Celebration of the New Addition
Jazz Festival with special guest
March 11, 8:00 p.m.
Reynolds Hall Concert Series - Lize Keiter-Brotzman
Masterclass
April 18 3:00 p.m.
Marvin Hamlisch Concert and Reception
April 30, 8:00 p.m.
Wind Ensemble – featuring Dr. Scott Beard performing “Rhapsody in Blue”