Bruce Bastian, portrait taken in Dumke Recital Hall for the Camerata Awards. (Photo: Drake Busath)

WRITTEN BY EMERI FETZER

Twenty years ago, a $1.2M gift to purchase Steinway pianos forever changed the trajectory of music at the University of Utah. Bruce Bastian, music educator, software pioneer, and philanthropist, made that trajectory possible.

School of Music alumna Anne Marie Pace (BMU 1981) graduated B.S. (before Steinways) and knows first-hand how high-quality instruments impact the education of music students.

“When I was at the U getting my degree in piano performance, we practiced on old, upright pianos in dingy rooms. When I first saw the School of Music’s new piano practice rooms with beautiful Steinway grands, I felt teary,” Pace remembered. 

When Bastian was recognized by the School of Music this fall with its highest honor, a 2019 Camerata Award, Pace made sure to thank him personally.

Bastian’s incredible gift in 2000 allowed the purchase of 55 handcrafted Steinway pianos, widely considered the “gold standard” of pianos, propelling a prestigious designation of the School of Music as an all-Steinway School. Almost 15 years later, the university administration invested an additional $1.9 for additional Steinway pianos, bringing the total collection to 125. 

Today, music students have a wealth of riches at their fingertips. Piano faculty offices boast two side-by-side Steinway grands for instruction. In the school’s Libby Gardner Concert Hall, performers can select from either 9-foot Hamburg or New York grands — depending on their preference for more subdued or brighter tones. 

Practice rooms for piano majors all include at least one, and sometime two, grand pianos. Every music faculty also has a piano in their office, regardless of their area. This spectacular fleet of instruments requires the oversight of a very busy, full-time piano technician.

A gift with immeasurable impact, Bastian’s investment reflects his own enduring love of music, and his commitment to those that pursue it. 

Since he started taking piano lessons at age six, music was central to Bastian’s life. He grew up surrounded by the sounds of jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and The Count Basie Orchestra. On Sunday afternoons, he listened to his father on string bass practicing with his jazz band. For Bastian, music brought inspiration, solace, and community. 

Earning a bachelor of arts degree in music education and a master’s from Brigham Young University, Bastian directed the Cougar Marching Band. In this role, Bastian recruited, trained, and advised students, and spent summers designing pre-game and half-time shows.

“Whether I was playing in the symphonic band, orchestra, jazz band, or marching band, those were my friends, that was my life. That’s the part of my day that I lived for,” he said. Though his path shifted to computer programming, Bastian has consistently drawn upon his musical background throughout his successful career. 

When a dear friend of Bastian’s told him about the pressing need for pianos at the U, he didn’t need convincing. Skip Daynes, fourth generation owner of Daynes Music Company, connected Bastian with Henry Steinway during a visit to NYC. Quickly a fast friend, Steinway introduced him to the century-old craftsmanship of Steinway & Sons pianos, reinforcing the immense impact the pianos could have on music students at the U. 

Current students and alumni consistently remark about how these pianos have impacted their everyday studies. 

Dr. Desireé González-Miller, a recent Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) Graduate and Assistant Professor of Piano at Brigham Young University stated, “As a student at the U, you get so used to the high standard of sound and mechanical ability of Steinway pianos. Having access to such a quality instrument is a catalyst for all the hard work we put into practicing. And beyond that, playing a Steinway concert grand piano gives you an extra boost in performance. The experience of playing becomes magical.” 

Fellow DMA alumni and BYU Assistant Professor Jared Pearce said, “I had a wonderful experience with using Steinway pianos at the University of Utah. Steinway & Sons has long since been revered as the undisputed king of piano instruments, dominating the world’s concerts venues. It’s unique and warm tone, combined with an ability to sing triumphantly alongside a full orchestra make it one of the gems of the musical world. Some of my favorite experiences as a student were rehearsing with the award-winning choirs as an accompanist. I always had access to multiple Steinway 7-foot grands and it made every rehearsal special and rewarding.” 

Because of Bruce Bastian’s generous support, the instruments at the School of Music now match the high level of education that both undergraduate and graduate students receive. From classroom to stage, our musicians at the U play with joyful confidence. ■