SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music Celebrates Designation as Yamaha Institution of Excellence in Ceremony at Expanded Crane Complex
Crane School of Music Dean Dr. William Gibbons speaks during a ceremony officially honoring Crane as a Yamaha Institution of Excellence. (Photo by Emily Painter '23)
SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music was officially honored as a Yamaha Institution of Excellence in a ceremony held yesterday with representatives from the international music products firm, along with students, faculty, staff and alumni.
The Crane School of Music is one of only 10 institutions across the country to have earned the designation from the Yamaha Corporation of America, marking an ongoing partnership that will support Crane’s mission through support for its programs in music business, education and performance.
Yamaha executives Amy Sorter, national director of the international channel sales team, and Domenic Cicchetti, institutional sales manager for the Northeast, were on campus all day, meeting with faculty and students.
“We only have 10 Yamaha Institutions of Excellence, so this means that we are working with institutions that are of the highest caliber in the industry. We are so excited to be here and honored to give this to you in person,” Sorter said. “This represents a real collaboration between Yamaha and The Crane School. We want to make sure we’re educating students, bringing in innovative programs and forming a long-term partnership with all of you. As a matter of fact, many of the folks who work at Yamaha started as interns who came from The Crane School or are graduates.”
The celebration, which had previously been delayed by the pandemic, was held in the newly opened $21.5 million addition to the Crane Complex. The ceremony was held in the contemporary lobby space, where a glass display case is already filled with keepsakes from the past 136 years of Crane history—and now, space can be made for the new statuette marking the Yamaha Institution of Excellence designation.
“Knowing our past teaches us how we got to where we are today. And even more importantly, history can help us plan for our future. Because as legendary as our history is, I still believe Crane’s best days lie ahead. Our partnership with Yamaha is an important part of shaping a bright future that continues Crane’s tradition of innovation, and ensures we’ll continue to be an institution of excellence for many years to come,” said Crane School of Music Dean Dr. William Gibbons.
Crane and the other nine inaugural schools to receive the honor were selected by Yamaha following a rigorous nationwide nomination and review process. Honorees were chosen for their dedication to providing unique and challenging experiences to their music students through diversity of thought and curriculum, exposure to a wider variety of voices and opportunities and an emphasis on preparing students for the modern world of music.
Crane has participated with Yamaha for the past five years in the company’s instrument loan program. Crane has also sent many interns to Yamaha as part of the school’s music business program, and a number of its graduates have gone on to careers with the company.
As part of the celebration, Crane students in the Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet performed two works, and guests stayed for a reception in the new space, which was just completed in time for the new academic year.
The $21.5 million renovation and expansion project created an official new entrance to the Crane Complex, with a much-needed expansion of the major rehearsal rooms for band and orchestra, a full renovation of “percussion alley,” and the addition of new modular practice rooms with advanced noise control technology, as well as a new dean’s suite. The project also included HVAC improvements and the replacement of fire alarms and corridor ceilings, as well as adding new roofs and marquees to Crane’s two largest performing spaces, Hosmer Hall and Snell Theater.
About Yamaha:
Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) is the largest subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation, Japan, and offers a full line of award-winning musical instruments, sound reinforcement, commercial installation and home entertainment products to the U.S. market. Products include: Yamaha acoustic, digital and hybrid pianos, portable keyboards, guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, band and orchestral instruments, marching percussion products, synthesizers, professional digital and analog audio equipment, Steinberg recording products and NEXO commercial audio products, as well as AV receivers, amplifiers, MusicCast wireless multiroom audio systems, Blu-ray/CD players, earphones, headphones, home-theater-in-a-box systems, sound bars and its exclusive line of Digital Sound Projectors. YCA markets innovative, finely crafted technology and entertainment products and musical instruments targeted to the hobbyist, education, worship, music, professional audio installation and consumer markets. To learn more, visit usa.yamaha.com.
About The Crane School of Music:
Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York’s only All-Steinway institution and was one of the first Yamaha Institutions of Excellence. For more information, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.
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