Legacy gift expands opportunities for USCA music students

Thanks to a legacy gift from Mary Jo Usher Steel and the generosity of her son, Joseph “Joey” Thames Usher Steel, the University of South Carolina Aiken’s music program now has access to one of the world’s most unique instruments.

USCA added a new Steinway & Sons Spirio | r Model B grand piano Sept. 24 to its All-Steinway collection, enhancing the university’s commitment to fostering musical excellence at the Etherredge Center and within its College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Spirio, which is considered the world’s finest high-resolution player piano, will mainly be used in an Etherredge Center studio, where USCA music faculty and students will create, rehearse, and perform compositions in real time.

Steinway & Sons introduced the Spirio | r in 2019. The concert grand-sized instrument uses an innovative iPad app known as Spiriocast for live-performance capture and playback.

This feature is valuable for students and faculty when composing, rehearsing, performing, recording, editing and sharing their music all over the world in high resolution. The technology also gives users access to a library of thousands of pre-recorded piano works by some of the greatest living and legendary pianists.

“We are deeply grateful for the Steels' extraordinary generosity,” said Dr. Megan Hall, USCA coordinator of piano studies. “Their donation not only enriches our student development but also underscores their dedication to supporting the arts and nurturing local talent.”

USCA’s purchase of the Spirio was made possible by an annuity left to the university by longtime donor and patron, Mary Jo Usher Steel.

Steel was fondly called “Mama Jo” by numerous people who “adopted” her. She passed away at the age of 95 on April 4, 2024. She loved attending concerts at the Etherredge Center with her son, Joey, and was a founding member of the USCA Legacy Society. Before her death, “Mama Jo” established a fund in the name of her parents, The Joseph T. and Mary H. Usher Music Program Endowment, to support music studies at USCA.

Inspired by Steel’s forethought and generosity, several loyal USCA donors and patrons, including Joey, helped raise funds to complete the purchase of the Spirio for the university’s music program.

In 2019, USCA became the first public institution in South Carolina designated an All-Steinway institution. Today, it is one of three public institutions of higher learning in South Carolina to hold the designation.

Steel and her son were the first two donors to USCA's All-Steinway campaign and helped encourage additional donations, beginning nearly a decade ago, which enabled USCA to start offering intensive piano studies for students. The university graduated its first piano student in 2021.

Beyond music studies, arts organizations, such as the Aiken Symphony and Joye! in Aiken, will benefit as well.

“The Steinway Spirio, renowned for its unparalleled sound quality and advanced technology, will serve as a cornerstone for our upcoming programs and performances,” Hall said. “Its sophisticated player-piano capabilities will provide audiences with an extraordinary listening experience and offer budding musicians an unparalleled tool for their craft.”

USCA plans to unveil the Spirio and dedicate an Etherredge Center studio in the Steels’ honor on Oct. 24

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.