Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments

The Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments, held by the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance in Ann Arbor, Michigan, consists of over 2,500 historical and contemporary musical instruments from around the world. The basis of the Collection is a gift made to the university by pharmaceutical businessman Frederick Stearns in 1898. Known internationally as a unique research collection, its holdings include the trumpet collection of Armando Ghitalla, former principal trumpet player of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and University of Michigan faculty member; a collection of violin bows from Jerry Tetewsky; as well as Robert Moog's first commercially produced Moog synthesizer from 1964 and the RCA theremin used during the WXYZ…