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School of Music alumnus gives back to alma mater


April 22, 2009

Jason Sipe is an alumnus of the ASU Herberger College School of Music who ensures each year that his alma mater has pianos available for faculty, student and concert use. 

Sipe is the owner of AZ Piano, which each year provides, free of charge, more than $300,000 worth of pianos to the School of Music. Without Sipe’s generosity, the school’s Recital Hall, a handful of teaching studios and more than 60 percent of the practice rooms would be empty. The School of Music simply could not function without the loaned pianos.

“Jason’s generosity certainly is in the vein of sustainability that quickly is becoming a larger part of our everyday lives,” says Kimberly Marshall, Goldman Professor of Organ and the School of Music director.

At the end of each academic year, the loaned pianos are sold at deep discounts – first to the ASU community and then to the general public. This year’s piano sale is being held May 21–24 on the ASU Tempe campus. 

“This is an opportunity for everyone to help sustain the School of Music’s commitment to providing students, faculty and the community with access to our stellar educational programs and superior performances,” Marshall adds.

There is no cost to attend the piano sale, which is being held in the Cowley lobby in the School of Music, located at the northeast corner of Mill Avenue and Gammage Parkway on the ASU Tempe campus. Beginning May 18, ASU alumni, faculty, staff and students can call 480.727.6770 to book an appointment to view the sale items from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., May 21–22. The sale then is open to the general community from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., May 23 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., May 24. For more information about the piano sale, please contact Rick Florence, School of Music senior piano technician, at 480.965.6760 or rick.florence@asu.edu.

The School of Music in the Herberger College of the Arts at Arizona State University is ranked 19th in the country and eighth among public institutions by U.S.News & World Report. More than 100 music faculty artists and scholars work with approximately 800 music majors each year in research, performance and scholarly activities. It presents approximately 700 concerts and recitals each year. To learn more about the School of Music, visit http://music.asu.edu.