USC Aiken's New Steinway Showcased During Annual Winter Nocturne

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AIKEN, SC (01/10/2018) The University of South Carolina Aiken's brand new 9' Steinway D grand piano will make its debut during the annual Winter Nocturne concert on Jan. 25, in the Etherredge Center.

World renown pianist, Petronel Malan of South Africa is the featured artist for the 2018 Winter Nocturne, a concert conceived by USC Aiken's generous donor and music aficionado, Ben Cox. He is a longstanding supporter of the university's music program. Cox partnered with Beth Newburn to lead the campaign for the new Steinway, ensuring its premiere during Winter Nocturne.

As part of the concert, Malan will pay tribute to Mozart. His birthday is just two days after the university's concert.

USC Aiken is proud to have Malan premiere its new Steinway, which was delivered to the Etherredge Center just before the holidays.

"This beautiful instrument will not only benefit the students who study music at USC Aiken but also the community that enjoys music through programs like Winter Nocturne and groups like Masterworks Chorale, Joye in Aiken, Aiken Symphony Orchestra, Aiken Civic Orchestra and others," said Judith Goodwin of the USC Aiken Advancement Office.

"This new Steinway is also the first step in USC Aiken becoming the first school in our region to be classified as an All-Steinway School."

By becoming an All-Steinway School, the university will join an elite group of few universities around the country. Currently there are only two schools in South Carolina classified as All-Steinway Schools, and both are private universities.

USC Aiken expects to be the first in the state system to achieve this categorization. Goodwin says the distinction will also enhance USC Aiken's ability to recruit talented students and faculty - and continue to provide the CSRA world-class entertainment.

Malan has earned gold medals at international piano competitions, been nominated for three Grammy Awards and won the "The American Prize of Excellence in the Arts." She has performed around the globe, including: Carnegie Recital Hall, Théâtre du Châtelet & Salle Cortot (Paris), Mozarteum (Salzburg), Liszt Museum (Budapest), Orchestra Hall (Chicago), Alte Handelsbörse (Leipzig), Bass Hall (Fort Worth), as well as the Ravinia, Gilmore & Music in the Mountain Festivals.

In addition, she has appeared with orchestras such as the St. Petersburg State (Russia), Martinú (Czech Republic), Bucaramanga (Colombia), Batumi (Republic of Georgia), Sicilian Chamber (Italy), and several others in the United States and South Africa, under the batons of Vasily Petrenko, Bernhard Gueller, Karina Canellakis, Dmitry Manilov, Yoshimi Takeda, James Brooks, Robert Hanson, and Fuzao Kajima.

Originally from Pretoria, South Africa, Malan started playing the piano at 4. She debuted with the Johannesburg Symphony at age 10. She completed both her graduate degrees at the University of North Texas. Malan's teachers included Steven de Groote, Ralph Votapek and Joseph Banowetz and intensive coaching sessions from American legend Earl Wild.

Winter Nocturne patrons will have the opportunity to meet the artist during a hot cocoa reception following the concert.

USC Aiken Steinway Campaign donors will be honored with a pre-event sneak peek at the piano behind the Main Stage curtain. Additionally, they will receive early-bird seating opportunities. Although seats in the Etherredge Center are not reserved, all patrons must have a ticket.

Tickets for Winter Nocturne, scheduled for Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., are available at: www.etherredge.usca.edu or by calling 803-641-3305. Concert tickets are $20; students are admitted free.

In addition to the concert on the Etherredge Center Main Stage, Malan will conduct classes for USC Aiken music students and will provide educational outreach programs in several schools.

For more on Malan, go to: http://www.petronelmalan.com .

For more on USC Aiken's All-Steinway effort, go to: https://usca.steinwayfund.com or call: (803) 641-3417.