TO INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ROSTER
Steinway & Sons is proud to announce the addition of the world-renowned pianist and composer David Benoit to its worldwide artist roster. Over the last quarter century, David Benoit has been a passionate musical innovator committed to the exploration of many different art forms on the American landscape.
A five time Grammy nominee for his extraordinary contributions to contemporary jazz, Mr. Benoit has also embarked on a multi-faceted journey into the classical music world. This has led to guest pianist and conductor spots with numerous top symphony orchestras, many appearances at Carnegie Hall, a performance on the steps of the Capitol Building with the National Symphony for the annual PBS July 4th event, and the creation of "Kobe", a symphonic tone poem about a little girl growing up in postwar Japan.
The remarkably versatile David Benoit has lent his conducting talents and legendary performance skills to a wide variety of settings. Mr. Benoit has led concerts with numerous world-class orchestras. His involvement as a guest educator with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation has taken him to classrooms throughout the country, where he has devoted many hours to teaching children about music. In 2001, he won the foundation's coveted "excellence in music education" award. He has also been involved with the Grammy in the Schools Foundation and was voted Music Mentor of the Year by the International Foundation of Education and Performing Arts (IFEPA).
His career as a contemporary jazz pianist began in 1977 and includes 23 solo recordings over the past 25 years. Many of these, including "Freedom At Midnight" and "Every Step Of The Way", are considered influential classics in the genre which has come to be known as Smooth Jazz. He was voted Keyboardist of the Year for 2000 and 2001 by the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards, and is currently in the Top Ten on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart with "Fuzzy Logic", which spawned the recent #1 hit instrumental single "Snap!"
Speaking of Mr. Benoit's affiliation, Peter B. Goodrich, Steinway's Vice President in charge of Concert and Artist Activities said, "David Benoit is an American pianist of immense stature and popularity. His love of the Steinway is mirrored in our Company's dedication to him and to his remarkably diverse music and performance projects. We are honored to be able to serve him in his extraordinary musical journey."
Since 1853, Steinway & Sons has been maker of the world's most sought after pianos, and its Concert and Artist Department has served the most talented and revered pianists throughout the globe since the late 1860's, making available instruments for performance and recording, television, and radio. Included on the Steinway Artist roster have been such immortals as Cy Coleman, George Gershwin, Vladimir Horowitz, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Arthur Rubinstein.
The members of the Steinway Artist family are each as unique as the instruments the Company makes. Whether their music is classical, jazz, popular, religious, or new age, the common thread among the 1300 artists who grace the roster is their belief in the Steinway piano as an instrument that will allow them to express themselves as no other piano can. The House of Steinway deeply values the artistry of David Benoit and is committed to assisting him in his performance and recording activities throughout the world.
For more details, please contact Leo Spellman, Senior Director Communications, Steinway & Sons at (718) 721-2600 x3116 or Victoria Voketaitis, Concert and Artist Activities, at Vvoketaitis@steinway.com.