The Mount is an All Steinway School
The Mount today became the first school in North Yorkshire to gain the internationally recognised designation as an ‘All Steinway School’ as the all-girl Quaker school took delivery of ten new pianos which students and staff had selected earlier in the year at Steinway Hall in London.
This exciting partnership between The Mount and Steinway and Sons gives Mount girls daily access to the highest quality pianos to practice, compose, perform and realise their artistic talents on world-class quality instruments. The Mount is now the first all-girls’ school in the North of England to receive the internationally recognised designation as an All-Steinway School. Only twenty schools in the UK currently have this accreditation, along with three conservatories and six universities.
Rachel Derbyshire, The Mount’s Head of Music, said, “We are delighted with the opportunities this investment creates for our girls. Not only will they play on the highest quality instruments, but they can look forward to working with visiting Steinway artists in addition to our wonderful specialist peripatetic teaching staff. I am proud of how our All-Steinway status reinforces our belief in the importance of creativity in girls’ education.”
The school’s Music scholars from Year 6 to College II (Upper Sixth Form) gave a special recital to unveil the new pianos, with the performance culminating in a unique ensemble using all ten pianos, before the pianos were moved to their permanent homes within the school.
Berlin in Year 8 said, “It felt good to play in the recital. The pianos were so smooth and really projected the sound. Going to Steinway Hall was a good experience. We got to see their showroom for the first time and choose the pianos for the school. We learned about how their pianos are made, which was very interesting. It takes three years to remove all of the moisture from the wood which they use for the soundboard of each piano.”
Florence in Year 6 said, “There were no tops on the pianos for the recital, so from where I sat I could see the back of the keys working, and that was really interesting. I really loved playing in the recital, even though I was nervous.”
“It was quite scary to perform in the recital but it felt amazing. The pianos are great, the pedals are so soft. Watching all ten pianos being played at once, the sound was fantastic; it sounded beautiful,” said Kyra in Year 6 who played a piece by Chopin.
As part of the All-Steinway status, girls at The Mount will also enjoy future Masterclasses with Steinway artists and opportunities to perform in the recital space at Steinway Hall.