Oklahoma City Community College owns a piece of music history — a Steinway & Sons grand piano — used daily in the Visual and Performing Arts Center by students and staff members.

Steinway & Sons has been in business and making pianos since 1853. The company keeps an extensive record of the history of its pianos, tracing the place of manufacturing and sale.

OCCC’s piano was built in Kansas City, Missouri, and sold in 1926, making it just two years shy of a century old.

OCCC Professor Michael Boyle said Steinways are considered the “Cadillac of pianos” and that, with care, the instruments will last for years and develop a better sound.

Boyle obtained the piano from the old Capitol Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. When the piano was acquired and moved to OCCC’s main campus, it was evident that it had been well-maintained.

Today, it is one of two Steinway pianos used on campus, though it remains the most used, well-loved and the oldest, Boyle said.

While there are other pianos on campus for students to practice with, Professor Boyle said the 1926 Steinway grand piano is a preferable instrument because of the quality of the sound, which comes from high craftmanship and quality of materials it’s made with.

“I think that having a piano this old really gives students the chance to learn the value of both taking care of the instruments they use, as well as the importance of purchasing secondhand items,” Boyle said. “It demonstrates equipment reliability and teaches a musician’s responsibility.”