Daynes Music Company, the largest Steinway piano dealer west of New York, is legendary in Utah. As it should be. Since 1862, and sometimes with more grit and stress than others, the Daynes family has worked to keep alive the business that has supported and elevated the entire region’s creative and cultural landscape. At the helm for the last 50 years as the company’s fourth generation owner is Skip Daynes, who too has played a pivotal role in the stability and growth of Salt Lake City’s arts scene. It’s in his blood.

His grandfather co-founded the Utah Symphony, his father lent space to what is now Ballet West during the 19060s (when it was called the Utah Civic Ballet), and Daynes did the same for Utah Opera, lending one of his stores as their home for 10 years. “My great granduncle was the first organist for the Mormon Tabernacle choir,” Daynes said. “And our family’s deep appreciation for music has lived on ever since.”

In fact, it was preserving that legacy that inspired Daynes to envision new ways of contributing to the vibrancy of the state’s love of music. Utah, after all, has more pianos per capita of any state, and it’s hard to imagine the Daynes family not having a significant impact that statistic.

In 1980, Daynes was a Bishop for a Mormon congregation on the campus of the University of Utah. It was his strong connection to the university, especially having attending before taking over the family business from his father, that sparked the idea of making the U’s School of Music and All-Steinway School.

It would be no easy feat, but Daynes isn’t afraid of a challenge. “When I was eight years old, my dad sent me up to work on Jeremy Ranch,” he said laughing. “He thought if I could grow up to run a farm, it would be easier than sustaining the piano business. But there is nothing easy about throwing hay and tending to hundreds of animals. It’s where I learned to work hard, and I’m so glad for it.”

For nearly 40 years now, he’s generously given to the U’s School of Music of his time, resources and talents. His contributions started with donated piano completion prizes and delivering pianos with his own two hands for master classes and concerts. It grew to include funding for piano graduate assistantships for many years, donated pianos (many donated pianos!), and the fundraising support to secure the $1.5 M gift that led to the School of Music being the first university in the country to receive the prestigious All-Steinway School designation, and a second gift of $2.1 M to maintain that status.

Like a business person who’s weathered the winds of time, he’s keenly aware of technology’s influence on music making. As such, he’s also helped secure a $125,000 gift from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation to build a technology lab in the School of Music’s home, David P. Gardner Hall.

“I’m so proud of my family’s contributions to the arts community here. And for as long as I’m around and capable, we’ll continue to give.”