PHILADELPHIA (Jacobs
Music Company press release) - Jacobs
Music Company, one of the nation's largest acoustic and digital piano retailers, has been selected by Steinway & Sons to help promote global peace and raise funds for children in need through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) by hosting the "Peace Piano."
Jacobs Music, the exclusive dealer representative of Steinway & Sons for the Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware region, was the first to be selected as a host for the Peace Piano because of its reputation, dedication, and contributions to the music community.
"This is a great honor for us, as well as tremendous recognition for the city of Philadelphia and surrounding region for its long history as a center for music and the arts," said Al Rinaldi, chairman and CEO, Jacobs Music. "It's also a wonderful opportunity for our region's youth to help the world's needy children through the expression of music."
The Peace Piano was inspired by the historic Steinway concert grand piano created for the 1939 World's Fair. That original piano, designed by famed 20th century art deco designer Walter Dorwin Teague, is now housed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The Peace Piano features a unique design that reflects its dedication to world peace, including a hand-carved dove grasping an olive branch, a gold-painted lower apron adorned with 63 stars, and 195 flags representing the countries and territories in which UNICEF has a presence.
Throughout the month of October 2004, Jacobs Music will bring the Peace Piano to music lovers throughout the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys through a wealth of musical activities and performances. Many of the area's most talented child pianists will have the opportunity to perform on the piano onstage during a "Play for Peace" Perform-a-thon at such venues as the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Trenton War Memorial, Rutgers University, and Moravian College.
"This is a historic opportunity for Jacobs Music to champion something that is vitally important to us - encouraging our region's young people to actively participate in music. This event is about children helping children and the opportunity to perform on the historic Peace Piano will reward the young participants for both their musical accomplishments and humanitarian efforts in raising needed funds for the world's children," Rinaldi said.
Jacobs Music, a Philadelphia cultural institution first established in 1900 - the same year as the Philadelphia Orchestra - has taken a leading role in the Philadelphia music community. The company supports internationally renowned artists and regional music organizations, including the Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and countless universities and schools of music. A family owned and operated business, Jacobs Music has built a longstanding reputation of charitable service to the Philadelphia community.
Mark Love, senior vice president of development, Jacobs Music, said, "When Steinway selected Jacobs Music to host the Peace Piano's tour of the Philadelphia region, we were so honored that we wanted to give many young musicians the opportunity to take part in this momentous event."
The Peace Piano will make its official debut in Philadelphia on October 1st, 2004 at the Curtis Institute of Music as part of the celebration of Curtis' 80th anniversary. In addition to spending the month of October in the Philadelphia area, the Peace Piano will visit other cities in the U.S., including New York and Boston, as well as major cities in Europe, Africa and Asia. Proceeds from the events associated with the Peace Piano will benefit UNICEF.
Music schools, cultural institutions, organizations, and individuals who wish to help support the month-long tour of the Steinway Peace Piano or participate in the "Play for Peace" Perform-a-thon should contact Jacobs Music's Mark Love at 215-568-0021, ext: 31.
