Benedictine College has become an all-Steinway piano School.

The School said three moving vans rolled onto the campus of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., in May 2015. Their precious cargo; 17 brand new Steinway pianos. That was just one part of an overall plan by the college to enhance its Music Department and become an All-Steinway School. More pianos would be delivered through the summer, with the final three, including a beautiful concert grand, delivered July 20. Now every piano on the campus, from classrooms to rehearsal rooms to the recital hall and performance venues, is a Steinway.

“Steinway & Sons is the top piano manufacturer in the world,” said Stephen D. Minnis, president of Benedictine College. “Their pianos, made by hand in New York, define excellence. Being designated an All-Steinway School demonstrates a commitment to the arts and a commitment to excellence. We are pleased to provide our students and faculty with the best equipment possible for the study of music.”

There are more than 2,500 colleges/universities in America and thousands more around the world, and only 172 have been designated All-Steinway Schools. Now Benedictine College joins that list.

“The dream of every music department in the world is to become an All-Steinway School and we are thrilled to be among the few institutions that have this honor,” said Dr. Ruth Krusemark, chair of the Music Department and the Mother Evangelista Kremmeter Professor of Benedictine Traditions and Values. “Our students will reap the greatest benefits of the pianos by practicing and performing on the best the industry has to offer. To make music on a Steinway increases your love for the wonderful sounds the instrument provides and inspires students to reach for their highest performance potential.”