Symphony Hall unveils new Steinway grand piano

A Steinway Model D concert grand piano for orchestras, concert pianists and performing artists to play has been unveiled at Birmingham 's Symphony Hall.

B:Music, the music charity responsible for Birmingham Symphony Hall and Town Hall, has acquired the grand piano “thanks to the vision of generous trusts and foundations ”.

Birmingham-based musician and graduate of the University of Birmingham and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, David Austin Grey (pictured) accompanied B:Music 's chief executive Nick Reed to London 's Steinway Hall to select the new instrument, which has been described as an artistic and musical treasure.

Steinway & Sons handcraft instruments, considered to be the finest pianos available in the world today, in factories in New York and Hamburg.

The new Model D concert grand piano, which is 9 ' long, with a high gloss ebony finish and weighing 480kg, was acquired from the Steinway piano selection room in London.

Located in Marylebone, it was opened in 1875 and became the first Steinway Hall in Europe.

It has showrooms as well as several practice rooms available for musicians of all ages.

The “piano bank ” at London 's Steinway Hall boasts many Hamburg Steinways and also offers New York Steinways, satisfying a diverse range of pianists.

With the addition of this new instrument, B:Music now has five Steinway pianos across its two venues, Town Hall and Symphony Hall, allowing the charity to permanently locate a Model D concert grand piano in the new Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space.

This new space in the foyer area of Symphony Hall hosts many performances by ensembles, guest artists and community arts organisations throughout the year.

B:Music chief executive Nick Reed said: “This purchase also comes as a result of the recent expansion of performance space at Symphony Hall and of B:Music 's ambition to make the finest instruments available to all.

“By adding a new piano of the highest quality to our stock, we hope to both inspire musicians at the beginning of their careers, such as those being supported by our talent development programmes, and to satisfy those world-class performers who regularly visit our halls. ”

Birmingham-based musician David Austin Grey has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with B:Music- as a performing artist, an educator and a composer - and was invited by Nick Reed to help select the new instrument.

Grey travelled to London to play and explore the unique characteristics of five different Steinway Model D concert grand pianos.

He said: “For me, Steinway is at the very top of the list when it comes to the craftmanship of the piano. Their quality, lineage and prestige are incomparable; their name is synonymous with the grand piano.

“I can 't wait to play this Steinway when I am next performing on the main Symphony Hall stage as part of B:Music 's Generation Ladywood project in June. I am very excited for Birmingham audiences to see and hear this beautiful instrument chosen for Symphony Hall. ”