A sixth form college in Winchester has received five new pianos to help become an All Steinway School.

Peter Symonds College took delivery of a brand new Steinway Model B grand piano and four upright pianos as part of the college’s ambition to become an All Steinway School.

This means the college is eligible to join the Steinway Initiative with a view to becoming an All Steinway School in the future.

If this is achieved, Peter Symonds will be the first state school in the country to become an All Steinway School.

The college has purchased the new pianos to replace some of the older pianos in the music department following a donation from the Mercers Company.

The new pianos were unveiled at a concert featuring music students Zosia Pilsworth, Hanna Csermely, Archie McMorran and Archie Thornton, who played pieces accompanied by Head of Keyboard, Dr Samantha Carrasco.

Dr Carrasco said: “The new Steinway pianos will be a fantastic addition to the music department offering even more musical and performance opportunities for our talented students whilst upgrading our practice facilities.

“We are really excited to be joining the Steinway Initiative and the new pianos will make an enormous difference for the students.”

The arrival of the five pianos was marked by a world premiere and recording of a piece entitled Lockdown Reflections by student Archie McMorran, who is going to study composition at Trinity Laban next year.