The famed Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, New York, has been accepted into the prestigious company of All-Steinway Piano Festivals. Now linked with such renowned Summer Music Festivals as Aspen, Brevard and Tanglewood that choose only Steinway designed pianos for their programming, the Chautauqua Institution’s Schools of Fine & Performing Arts will now offer its students, faculty and internationally acclaimed artists the opportunity to study, practice and perform exclusively on Steinway designed pianos.

Marty W. Merkley, vice president and director of programming for the Chautauqua Institution, commented in a letter to Steinway dignitaries in their Long Island City, New York office, and members of Steinway’s local dealer representative, Denton, Cottier & Daniels of Buffalo, New York, which will be facilitating all of the arrangements for installing the Family of Steinway Designed Pianos on site, that “Chautauqua is thrilled and honored to be included in the Steinway family. This relationship with Steinway along with the completion of over $7 million in improvements to our school of music campus, places Chautauqua among the leading summer festival programs.”

Jim Trimper, Sr., president of Denton, Cottier & Daniels, and Michelle Wlosinski, vice president, will be working closely with Mr. Merkley, his administrative and piano technical staffs under the direction of Bruce Fellows, in the final selection of models and placement of pianos during the 2008 nine-week summer programs. A total of 41 new Family of Steinway Designed Pianos will be available on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution for use during the festival. The historic partnership will further be recognized in all Chautauqua Institution programs and publications with the printed captions “The Chautauqua Institution uses Steinway Pianos exclusively for its Festival Season” and “The Family of Steinway Designed Pianos in service at the Chautauqua Institution are facilitated by Denton, Cottier & Daniels, Buffalo, New York”.

The Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit education center and summer vacation destination located on 750 acres in Chautauqua, New York, in the southwestern part of New York State. It was founded in 1874 as a camp for Sunday school teachers by Methodist Bishop John Heyl Vincent and Lewis Miller, an Akron, Ohio, inventor and manufacturer, and father-in-law to world famous inventor Thomas Edison. The Institution has operated each summer since, gradually expanding its season and program offerings. The Institution also includes the professional components of symphony, opera, theater, dance, chamber music, lectures and contemporary entertainment. A residential program of intensive study is offered to students on the verge of professional careers who audition for admittance into Chautauqua Institution’s Schools of Fine and Performing Arts.

In 1973, the National Park Service recognized the institution’s historic importance by adding it to the National Register of Historic Places.

Steinway & Sons, One Steinway Place, Long Island City, New York, is recognized throughout the world for its superior quality and has long been acknowledged as a leader in technical development of the piano. The Steinway piano has been handcrafted in New York for over 154 years and its name has become synonymous with quality. The Steinway piano has won international recognition from the most distinguished pianists and musical artists. The Steinway piano is the choice of over 98 percent of piano soloists performing with symphony orchestras. The Family of Steinway Designed Pianos includes the Boston and Essex piano brands.

The Boston piano offers a full line of grand and upright pianos that blend the incomparable design experience of Steinway & Sons with the efficiencies of high technology production. Boston pianos can be found at leading music institutions around the world. The Essex piano is also designed by Steinway engineers and manufactured to exacting Steinway specifications providing a piano with rich sound and inspired cabinetry at an affordable price.

Denton , Cottier & Daniels, located in Getzville, New York, a suburb of Buffalo, with a second location in East Rochester, New York, was founded in 1827 and in 2007 celebrates 180 years of continuing service to the music and educational communities of greater Western New York State. Denton’s was appointed as a Steinway & Sons Dealer on March 18, 1860, and has been recognized as the oldest Steinway & Sons retail dealer.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE at http://press.ciweb.org/photos/