Few things in this world are as soul-piercing as a melody emanating from a grand piano, and the lucky ones who have heard it, forever cherish the memories.
Now, the Oak Bay public can experience just such a musical instrument at Oak Bay High’s Dave Dunnet Community Theatre.
The $100,000 instrument purchased by the Community Association of Oak Bay after months of fundraising is none other than a pristine, seven-foot Steinway & Sons Concert Grand, the finest piano in North America, perhaps even the world.
Of course, a Steinway doesn’t just appear from thin air.
It started as a dream for Joe Blake, community association member and the volunteer behind the whole fundraising effort to supply the school’s community theatre with a grand piano.
“I’m very happy to help bring such a wonderful instrument to this theatre,” Blake said.
The campaign to raise funds for the piano launched last September with the Pianorama Benefit Concert featuring local pianists including Louise Rose, Toni Blodgett, Arthur Rowe, Karel Roessingh, Brent Jarvis, Jan Stirling and surprise guest, Michael Kaeshammer.
So far, the committee has raised more than $65,000, with the aim to get the full $100,000 by September this year.
Purchased from Tom Lee Music, the committee also has two years to pay it off, interest-free, if needed.
They’re certainly not alone in their goal. In May, an anonymous donor purchased 10 seats in the theatre, to the tune of $450 each, as part of the committee’s deal with the Victoria School Board to sell 100 seats to help raise funds for the piano. Currently, 35 remain.
Each $450 donation also receives a tax receipt from the Oak Bay Rotary Foundation.
Blake purchased one seat for himself, as did his wife.
“We had lots of pianists who played on this very piano, and during last Pianorama, despite that we had a $200,000 model brought over to the theatre, all favoured this one,” Blake said.
This particular Steinway was also played rigourously by a plethora of musicians throughout this past Jazz Fest as well.
Coming up this fall will be a second Pianorama, scheduled for Sept. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Dave Dunnet Theatre, with several pianists including Rowe, Jarvis, Stirling, Blodgett, Ivan Elieff and Niels Petersen lined up.
“Celebrate the community’s great new theatre and world-class concert grand piano by contributing to this worthy cause,” Blake said.
For more info, email secretary@oakbayrotaryfoundation or call 250-595-1500.
octavian.lacatusu@oakbaynews.com