Harriet Norrie (left) who received the President's Medallion for her vision in the college's designation as an All-Steinway School, is joined by her husband, Bill, and Steinway pianist Marilyn Shields-Wiltsie.
Back in its heyday as the home of the college’s basketball team, the building might have emitted louder sounds, but never were they more passionate and stirring than on Thursday night, when Martin Methodist College hosted its inaugural Steinway Concert in the newly dedicated Virginia and Dr. Thomas Gault Fine Arts Center.
The Gault Center had been officially opened two days earlier, following a $3.2 million project that turned the long-abandoned Old Gym into a musical and visual showplace. With the building’s new life also came 12 new Steinway pianos – 11 in the Gault Center and one on the Martin Hall Auditorium stage – and the designation of Martin Methodist College as the 96th All-Steinway School in the world.
On Thursday, the first-ever Steinway Concert was held in the Gault Center’s 126-seat recital hall, and pianist Marilyn Shields-Wiltsie – a Steinway artist from Nashville – brought the invited guests to their feet with a powerful and evocative hour-long performance on the college’s new nine-foot Steinway grand piano.
Later, the audience gave a second rousing ovation when Martin Methodist College President Ted Brown awarded the President’s Medallion to Harriet Norrie of Pulaski, who – with her husband, Bill – made the generous gift of the dozen pianos that resulted in the “All-Steinway” designation.
“One of the primary reasons we gather this evening is to recognize our wonderful benefactors for the All-Steinway program at Martin Methodist College – Harriet and Bill Norrie,” Brown said. “Harriet Norrie is fundamentally a teacher – once a teacher, always a teacher. And over the course of the last couple of years she has been in the process of teaching us here at Martin Methodist College about quality as it relates to music education.
“What may surprise many here tonight – although not Harriet Norrie – is that there is a wonderful sense of continuity in what Harriett and Bill have done,” Brown continued. “I hold here the Martin College Bulletin from the 41st academic year – 1911-12. The title page reads ‘Martin College and Conservatory of Music.’
“During its first half century-and-more existence, this institution was known around the southeast region for the quality of its music instruction – what is called vocal culture, piano and music theory. Even more interesting is that Harriet Norrie remembers her grandmother and mother talking about their music instruction at Martin College. And Harriett had her own experience with piano instruction and recitals on the campus in the summers.
“Tonight we begin moving back to the future,” Brown said. “As Martin Methodist College begins its 140th academic year, we also inaugurate what is sure to become a new legacy of excellence in music education.”
Brown proceeded to present the President’s Medallion to Mrs. Norrie, signifying unparalleled dedication, support and service to Martin Methodist College.
