MARYVILLE – An ambitious fund-raising plan to put two new Steinway concert grand pianos in the soon-to-be-opened Clayton Center for the Arts has reached its goal of $210,000 six weeks ahead of schedule.

On Sept. 10, Dr. Fred and Mrs. Jane Tolhurst held an event in their Maryville home to introduce the Grand Players Society, a group of donors of $1,000 and more (“players”) who were interested in raising $210,000 for two Steinway concert grand pianos for the performance stages of the Clayton Center. At the event, the couple stressed the importance of finishing the campaign by the end of December.

Now, a little more than two months later, the Tolhursts are very pleased to announce that the fund-raising goal has been reached.

“We are thrilled to have met our goal, and so quickly, and are amazed by the excitement and generosity of the donors to this project,” said Jane Tolhurst.

Added Fred Tolhurst: “We wanted to assure that the best possible pianos would be on the stages of the Center, and available not only now, but for the next generation. Nothing else was acceptable to Jane and me.”

All Players will have their names listed on a recognition plaque in the Clayton Center lobby. They will also be invited to special receptions to meet visiting pianists and will have the opportunity to be hosts and hostesses for piano recitals and concerts.

Sen. Alexander and wife Honey purchase Steinway

Twenty-five local individuals and families supported this effort, including a couple of surprise gifts. As a part of the Grand Players Society structure, there was a naming opportunity to purchase an entire piano.

Sen. Lamar Alexander and his wife Honey responded to the publicity regarding the event by providing funds for one of the two Steinways. That Steinway will be named “The Alexander” in honor the senator’s parents, Andrew and Flo Alexander, who met in 1931 when they were students at Maryville College.

“When I was 4 years old, my mother drove me to Maryville College for what were then called ‘experimental’ piano lessons,” the senator said. “Those lessons and the artists who performed concerts at the College gave me a love of music that lasts today. Honey and I are glad to help give children today the opportunity to play and to hear artists perform on the best pianos.”

Hickory Construction made the second-largest gift toward the purchase of the second piano and has the special distinction of being the only corporate gift to the Grand Players Society. The company’s gift came in to provide the funds remaining to get the group over the top of its campaign goal.

“Hickory has always recognized the value of Maryville College to our community. The new Clayton Center for the Arts is another example of that commitment,” said Burke Pinnell and Chuck Alexander, president and executive VP of Hickory Construction. “Knowing that we would, in some way, be contributing to the Center, we were delighted to participate in this unique opportunity to help with the purchase of the timeless Steinway pianos.

“We look forward to enjoying performances at the Center.”

Three $10,000 gifts were each given because the donors are pianists as well as piano lovers and were emotionally drawn to knowing they would be able to see, hear and touch their gift to the Clayton Center.

One of them said specifically that she was “paying forward” the gift of music lessons provided by her parents. Another stated that she had been planning to donate to the Clayton Center campaign, but wasn’t sure what to do until she heard of the Grand Players. “This is it,” she shared. “Now we know exactly what we are going to do. We want to sit there listening to something we helped provide.”

Players donating $10,000 and more will be invited to New York in early 2010 to tour the Steinway & Sons factory, which is available only to piano purchasers.

Dr. Robert Bonham, Maryville College professor emeritus, and Dr. Bill Swann, the College’s associate professor of music, will travel to New York to make the selection of the two Steinways that will be delivered to the two performance stages of the Center for the Arts in time for the grand opening.

Steinways will attract concert pianists

Robert Hutchens, executive director of the Clayton Center, said that the Grand Players’ gifts guarantee that the main stage and recital hall will have excellent pianos from the time the Center opens.

“Many of the very best concert pianists require Steinways, and having them will attract such artists,” he added.

Holly Jackson-Ludlow, vice president for advancement and community relations, said the Steinway campaign is a boost to the overall campaign for the Clayton Center.

“Due to the tremendous success of this private fund-raising effort, the College is now able to shift the $75,000 that was budgeted for the stage pianos to the purchase of 20 new pianos that are needed to replace those that have been in storage since the Fine Arts Center was razed,” she explained. “We are so thankful to Jane and Fred for their tremendous efforts in making this happen.”

Clayton Center nearing completion

Construction of the Clayton Center for the Arts, which is located on the Maryville College campus, is nearing completion. A public grand opening is planned for March 2010.

Constructed through a partnership of the College, the cities of Maryville and Alcoa, and state and federal governments, the $47-million Clayton Center for the Arts will celebrate the art and culture of the Appalachian region by serving as a venue for local musicians, performers and artists.

Its design will also accommodate plays and musicals, concerts by touring musicians and orchestras, traveling art exhibits, film series, children’s plays and presentations by nationally recognized speakers.

Donors wishing to contribute additional monies to purchase pianos for the Clayton Center – or fund other related initiatives – may contact Jackson-Ludlow at 865.273.8884 or holly.ludlow@maryvillecollege.edu.