The Rolls-Royce of Pianos Makes its Newberg Debut

George Fox plans an interactive concert for its new Bösendorfer “Imperial� grand

(Newberg) - George Fox University is offering local music aficionados an opportunity to hear and play arguably the finest piano made today — the Bösendorfer `Imperial" grand.

Recently arrived from Vienna, Austria, George Fox`s new Imperial will be introduced to the public at the university`s Bösendorfer Bash, held 3:00 PM, Sunday, Feb. 26th at Bauman Auditorium. The concert is free and will be followed by a dessert reception with Viennese treats.

Audience members will sit on stage with the performers. After the concert, they will be invited to play the massive nine-and-half-foot Imperial and its unusual nine extra sub-bass notes. The Imperial is the only concert grand piano in the world with 97 keys. The extra strings and length give the instrument additional resonance and richness.

Full retail price for a Bösendorfer Imperial is about $180,000. Melinda Bargreen, Seattle Times music critic, has written that the Imperial is `often considered the ne plus ultra of pianos." The Imperial was famously called the `Rolls-Royce of pianos" by Garrick Ohlsson, the first American to win first prize in the International Chopin Competition.

Steinway dominates the high-end piano market, but is being challenged by other makers including Bösendorfer — a 175-year-old Austrian firm whose pianos are handmade and were played by Liszt, Brahms, Dvorak and Bernstein.

A long-time Steinway player, George Fox music professor Kenn Willson surprised himself and recommended the university purchase the Bösendorfer after hours spent in the both piano-maker`s showrooms. He says he was brought to tears by the rich Bösendorfer sound. `The Imperial blankets you in sound," he says. Willson hopes to add a Steinway to the university collection in the future.

The Bösendorfer Bash will feature classical, neo-romantic and jazz performances by seven artists: Willson, professor of music and Bösendorfer performing artist; Randy Porter, professional jazz pianist and Steinway performing artist; Debra Huddleston, adjunct piano instructor, staff accompanist and Bösendorfer teaching artist; Peggy Dougherty, adjunct piano instructor; Jackie Van Paepeghem Mullaney, applied vocal instructor; Cynthia McGladrey, applied vocal instructor; and Michael Seregow, alumni pianist.

The Imperial is one of seven new pianos George Fox purchased this winter to replace and upgrade an aging set of three-decade-old pianos used by students and performers. Five are made by the Germany-based Schimmel company and two by Bösendorfer.

`This gives our students the opportunity to practice and perform on first-class instruments," Willson says. `These acquisitions should be a draw for potential students. Performing on the Imperial in a facility like Bauman Auditorium truly is a rare treat for a pianist."