Steinway & Sons is proud to announce the addition of The 5 Browns to its International Artist Roster. The 5 Browns – an American quintet of brothers and sisters who are all virtuoso concert pianists – make their recording debut on a new CD from RCA Red Seal/BMG Classics that features an array of classical favorites showcasing the talents of each member of the family. All the music for the album, including the ensembles, was memorized for the recording. “The 5 Browns” was released as a DualDisc on February 8, 2005.

With one of the most appealing stories in music, The 5 Browns – Ryan, 20; Melody, 21; Gregory, 23; Deondra, 25 and Desirae 26 - became an international sensation with appearances on Oprah and 60 Minutes and in People, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Sunday London Telegraph while they were still attending New York’s Juilliard School of Music, the first time five siblings have been students at the same time at the prestigious school.

Desirae and Deondra Brown, who often perform as a duo-piano team, play Ravel’s La Valse in its two-piano version. Gregory Brown is heard in two solo works – Rachmaninoff’s “Elégie” from Morceaux de fantaisie, Op. 3, and Bowen’s Toccata, Op. 155. Melody Brown performs Debussy’s L'Isle joyeuse and Friedman’s Tabatière à musique (Musical Box), Op. 33, No. 3. Ryan Brown is also heard in a pair of solo works – Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 3, Op. 28 and the fourth of Rachmaninoff’s Moments Musicaux, Op. 16.

Speaking of the new affiliation, Peter B. Goodrich, Steinway’s Vice President in charge of Concert and Artist Activities says, “It can truly be said, in this case, that the family that plays together stays together. The 5 Browns are a remarkably gifted family of young pianists, who bring great joy to all those who hear them. We at Steinway are proud to be assisting these artists as they embark upon an incredibly exciting musical journey.”

Having devoted most of their young lives to classical music, The 5 Browns are reaching their artistic maturity just as seismic changes have begun to rewrite the rules in the classical recording industry. Their serious dedication combines with their infectious energy offers the listener a new way to perceive classical music.

Since 1853, Steinway & Sons has been maker of the worlds most sought after pianos, and its Concert and Artist Department has served the most talented and revered pianists throughout the globe since the late 1860's, making available instruments for performance and recording, television, and radio. Included on the Steinway Artist roster have been such immortals as Cy Coleman, George Gershwin, Vladimir Horowitz, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Arthur Rubinstein.

The members of the Steinway Artist family are each as unique as the instruments the Company makes. Whether their music is classical, jazz, popular, religious, or new age, the common thread among the 1300 artists who grace the roster is their belief in the Steinway piano as an instrument that will allow them to express themselves as no other piano can. The House of Steinway deeply values the artistry of The 5 Browns and is committed to assisting them in performance and recording activities throughout the world.

For more information, please contact Victoria Voketaitis, Concert and Artist Activities, at Vvoketaitis@steinway.com.