The piano was made possible by longtime supporters of the School of Music Jyotindra
(JP) and Mary Parekh, along with a gift from Mary’s brother, Richard Samulski, former
Head of the Gene Therapy Center at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Samulski
gave a brief presentation about the Samulski family’s commitment to music noting humorously
that the Steinway Spirio R records every note, “including the bad ones.”
Samulski and his eight siblings also donated a technology and support endowment fund to maintain the Steinway Spirio R, and for scholarships to train students and future piano technicians for the instrument. Both the piano and endowment were given in memory of their parents, Ted and Itala Samulski. “Our mother and father were strong advocates and supporters of education and the arts,” recounted Mary Parekh. “My mom taught music for over 70 years and my father made certain all nine of us went to college for an education, something no one could take away from you.”
At a reception before the concert, JP and Mary Parekh were recognized on their retirement from their decades-long careers in the piano industry and thanked for their involvement in the School of Music, both as proprietors of Rice Music House, the area’s Steinway dealer, as main sponsors of the Southeastern Piano Festival and other concerts and as members of the Friends of Music Board. Their constant presence at the School of Music over the decades has ensconced their contributions to the history of the School, as it celebrates a century of Music at Carolina.
Mary Parekh explained her commitment to the study of music. “Today’s youth are used to instant cell phone gratification. Studying music enables them to see the depth of a subject and to experience the pleasure of accomplishing what is difficult.” She also observed that what the USC School of Music has accomplished in the last 20 years is remarkable, cementing its place in the ranks of the best music training in the country. Part of that success is due to the Festival, which she noted “is now a magnet for rising performers from all over the world.”
Jyotindra Parekh, who has provided the School with innumerable pianos for performance and other purposes, noted that USC students have earned the right to have the best pianos available to them. “Soon, these students will be Steinway Artists themselves.”
JP and Mary are among the best and most devoted friends that the USC School of Music has ever had. Their dedication to both great musical performance and the power of music-making for all are passions that align so beautifully with the mission and vision of the USC School of Music. From their support of the elegance and excellence of the Southeastern Piano Festival to contributing to the daily needs of a dynamic School of Music where new and not-so-new pianos require moving, repairing, and replacement constantly, JP and Mary, and their Rice Music House team have been there with us every step of the way.
— Tayloe Harding, Dean, School of Music
As the Parekhs retire from a lifetime of music-making, Dean Tayloe Harding highlighted their indelible imprint on students, faculty, and the community. “JP and Mary are among the best and most devoted friends that the USC School of Music has ever had,” said Harding. “Their dedication to both great musical performance and the power of music-making for all are passions that align so beautifully with the mission and vision of the USC School of Music. These principles and the goals they share with the School of Music have manifested themselves in profound ways too numerous to count over our 20-year partnership with them at Rice Music House. From their support of the elegance and excellence of the Southeastern Piano Festival to contributing to the daily needs of a dynamic School of Music where new and not-so-new pianos require moving, repairing, and replacement constantly, JP and Mary, and their Rice Music House team have been there with us every step of the way. We will miss their leadership of Rice, but we are thrilled that they will continue to be lovers of great music and lifelong friends of our beloved School.”
About the Southeastern Piano Festival
For more than 20 years, the University of South Carolina School of Music has hosted the Southeastern Piano Festival, a tradition of accessible, world-class performances and music education. The festival presents a week of affordable performances by world-class pianists along with a high-level training platform for young pianists.
About the University of South Carolina School of Music
The University of South Carolina School of Music believes music is an essential component of the human experience. Our mission is to prepare our students to be skilled music leaders to ensure that they advance the quality of life in their communities by helping to make others happier, healthier, more hopeful and more fulfilled through the power of music. We do this by advancing musical instruction at the highest level for students' professional preparation and leveraging the daily work done by students and faculty in the teaching and learning of music to unlock music’s unlimited potential to improve lives throughout the Midlands and beyond.