Pearl River ensures students are performance ready with purchase of new pianos

Pearl River Community College is investing in the arts as the Fine Arts Department recently received an update to the piano lab.

“We are thrilled and so grateful to be receiving new Yamaha digital pianos in the piano lab,” PRCC Music Instructor Hope McKellip Bass said. “They arrived Friday morning and we are eager to get to work on them in my freshmen and sophomore piano classes.”

Thirteen Yamaha digital pianos were purchased from Mississippi Music in Hattiesburg for piano classes. PRCC also bought a George Steck baby grand piano to be used in accompanying PRCC’s choral ensembles. Piano classes are normally reserved for music majors. The four consecutive sections prepare those students to move on to the university level and pass a required piano proficiency for their degrees. 

“I’m excited about the new pianos because I think it’s really awesome how involved PRCC is with the music department and how important it is to them,” PRCC music major Mallorie Saucier said. “This is really a big deal for us. It’s fun to get to wake up and come to class and it’s like Christmas.”

The new purchases are in addition to the Steinway 9-foot concert grand piano purchased in the last five years for the state-of-the-art Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for Performing Arts. 

“This is definitely a huge upgrade that we are so excited about,” Bass said. “Thank you to Mr. Roger Knight, the PRCC Board of Trustees, and Carl Johnston at Mississippi Music in Hattiesburg, for making this happen.”

Anyone interested in joining the Wildcat Family as a music major can email PRCC Fine Arts and Communication Department Chair Dr. Trevor Hunt at thunt@prcc.edu.

For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats)  Instagram](PRCCWILDCATS) and Facebook(@PRCCMKTG).

Pearl River Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities.  The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability.  For inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies or to request accommodations, special assistance, or alternate format publication please contact Tonia M. Seal, Director of Admissions and Records/ ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator at P.O. Box 5559, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601-403-1060 or Maghan James, Assistant Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator at P.O. Box 5805, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601-403-1132.

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