NTU welcomes SG50 Limited Edition Red Steinway Grand Piano to Nanyang Executive Centre

The Steinway anchors the newly reopened Nanyang Executive Centre, a new hub for music, arts, and community engagement.

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has welcomed the SG50 Limited Edition Red Steinway Grand Piano — the instrument played by international pianist Lang Lang during Singapore's 2015 National Day Parade — to the newly reopened Nanyang Executive Centre (NEC).

The piano was presented on 21 August 2026 as part of NEC's official reopening, followed by an inaugural performance by Prof Louis Phee. Placed in the custodianship of NEC by The Rice Company Limited (TRCL), the piano will be used for educational programmes, performances, rehearsals and community engagement activities.

The piano reflects NEC's commitment to supporting and engaging with NTU’s arts and cultural community. It anchors the Education Wing Atrium, a central space designed to bring together students, guests and visitors.

Mr Alvin Tay, Deputy Chairman of TRCL, said: “Having been closely involved with Sing50 in 2015, this piano holds a special significance for us at TRCL. It was created to commemorate Singapore’s 50th year of independence and represents the spirit of a generation that came together through music to celebrate this special occasion. Ten years on, we wanted this legacy to live on in a place where it could continue to inspire the next generation.

“NTU is a fitting home for the SG50 Limited Edition Red Steinway Grand Piano. The arts are an important part of a vibrant university experience, giving students the opportunity to explore their creativity, connect with one another and engage with the wider community. By having the piano reside at NTU, we hope that a piece of Singapore’s cultural heritage will not simply be preserved, but continue to be played, enjoyed and given new meaning by generations of young people.”

Raphael Tan, NTU’s Cultural Activities Club President, said, “The arts should have a visible and meaningful presence on campus, and having a piano of such distinction at NTU is an important step towards making that vision a reality. I hope it becomes a shared platform for students to perform, collaborate, and create, inspiring more of our community to discover and engage with the arts.”

 

From National Day Parade to campus stage
Built by Steinway & Sons, the piano is finished in a striking shade of red created for Singapore’s SG50 celebrations in 2015. At NEC, it finds a new home and purpose.

NEC serves NTU's broader community of over 40,000 students and 8,000 staff, along with visiting academics, alumni and executive learners, across its 150 rooms and event spaces. The piano is an early step in NEC’s plan to bring the arts into campus life, alongside deeper collaboration with NTU's student clubs.

NTU thanks TRCL and Ms Jennie Chua, NTU Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of TRCL, for making this arrangement possible.