East Central College’s music department is seeking donations to purchase a concert grand piano to benefit concert pianists, students and the community as a whole.

Currently, the college has a 7-foot piano. A concert grand piano is typically 9 feet.

“We invite internationally known pianists to perform at the college,” said Jennifer Judd, associate professor in the music department. “They expect to play on a concert grand piano. It’s (about) the caliber of the piano and the caliber of the pianist we can have (perform).”

Judd said current and future students in the music department also will benefit from having the piano because they will have the opportunity to use the piano for recitals and concerts.

“We have had a really vibrant concert series for the past 10 years,” she said. “The concerts are usually well-attended. A concert grand piano will not just serve students of the college, but also will provide the community with a higher quality of instrument and program.”

The college is looking into purchasing a refurbished concert grand piano, which will help cut down on the cost. A new concert grand piano runs about $110,000. A secondhand, refurbished piano could be purchased for around $47,000, Judd said.

Owning a concert grand piano is not just for prestige, she said, but it will match the quality of musicians who perform at the college as well as the facility and other equipment the college owns.

“(Musicians are) not playing on an instrument that’s worthy for them or for the patrons listening,” said Shannon Grus, executive director of the East Central College Foundation, which is helping coordinate the fundraising campaign.

Judd said she has wanted a concert grand piano at the college for the past several years. A fund was started about five years ago and about $19,635 has been raised. Since this new fundraising effort has started, an additional $2,450 has been raised.

“Every little bit counts,” Grus said. “If you were a music student here years ago, or maybe one of your children has taken lessons or participates in the district music festival . . . all of those things play into East Central College being the best. This would solidify our place in the community.”

Judd said the piano will benefit the college for a long time.

“We would expect to use this for decades to come, even though we would be purchasing it secondhand,” she said.

Judd is hoping to have the concert grand piano in place by March, when the The Eliot Trio is set to perform at the college.

The trio includes Seth Carlin, director of the piano program at Washington University, violinist David Halen, the concertmaster for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and acclaimed SLSO cellist Bjorn Ranhelm.

Donations for the concert grand piano can be made using a credit card, check or cash. Donors also can pledge funds to donate over a period of time. Checks can be made payable to the ECC Foundation Piano Fund and sent to East Central College, 1964 Prairie Dell Road, Union, MO 63084.

For more information, people may call Judd, 636-584-6696, or Grus, 636-584-6505.