Why a Grand Piano? The Jindabyne Hall lost its piano many years ago and since then, although a number of festivals and cultural events have been coming to Jindabyne, year after year the major music events are staged in Thredbo (The Jazz Festival and the Blues Festival, CMC Rocks the Snowies), in Perisher (Snowy Mountains of Music) and in Cooma at St. Paul's church. While those venues have been able to attract artists from all over Australia and even the world, Jindabyne has always been by-passed.We have the town, the most beautiful scenery, we have accommodation and food venues, but for some reason, no incentive for major music/performing arts events to stage their shows in our town.
… Well there’s nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear
than to sit in the Hall with no piano to hear”
How did the Idea of the Project Start? Since 2007, the Polish Festival has brought to the Snowies, as part of their cultural program, a wonderful concert pianist who performs worldwide. For his first performance in the Jindabyne Hall, pianist Krzystof Malek, beautifully dressed in his tail suit, had to perform on a portable keyboard and someone ended up having to hold the foot pedal that kept slipping on the timber floor.
The second year, Krzystof was introduced to the Quality Resort Horizon piano and a performance staged in the foyer, limiting the audience to around 50. The third year, Krzystof was able to perform again at Horizon and on a concert piano (belonging to Rev Carol Wagner) in the Anglican Church in Jindabyne but unfortunately, Carol has now left the Snowies and her piano is gone.
This April, Jindabyne had the privilege to welcome the Co-Opera production of „The Marriage of Figaro‟, a wonderful live performance that delighted the 240+ music lovers on the night. The orchestra had two pianists, the musical director himself playing on a digital keyboard, the second one hiding behind a black partition performing on a small digital keyboard as well. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she had been offered to play on a grand piano in full view of the audience, adding dramatic dimension to the show?
The „Piano for Jindabyne‟ project was „quick-started” in April last year during Krzysztof Malek's visit to Jindabyne. As he was practicing at Horizon, Mike Kelly MP was invited to listen to Krzysztof practice for his evening concert and meet with him. When it was mentioned to Mike that Jindabyne didn't have a grand piano, Mike's first reaction was “And what are you going to do about it?” followed by his pledge for a $1,000 donation from his own money (read Snowy River Echo article below), on the spot.
Where do we go from here? A small committee has since been formed to pursue the project and raise funding for a grand piano for the Jindabyne Hall, to attract quality performances from visiting artists and encourage more shows and events to be held in our beautiful town.
The local performing arts teachers are also embracing the project and are delighted at the thought of having local students and performers being able to perform on a quality instrument.
There is a lot of work ahead of us to make this happen, but the committee believes this is a project that will benefit the whole community for years to come. We are hoping (like the town of Cootamundra - see testimony attached) that Jindabyne will become a destination for music and performing arts lovers, encouraging them to come throughout the year and use our hall, bringing in some much needed off-ski season revenue to the region.
The Committee is now approaching the community, business houses and Council to raise the funds needed for the purchase of the grand piano and it is hoped that the piano will be there for all to enjoy before the summer of 2011/12.
A major fundraising event has been planned for Saturday 2 July at the Jindabyne Hall, right in the middle of the school holiday and ski season, to showcase the versatility of the piano and raise much needed funds. The concert will feature renowned classical, blues and jazz artists.
Your support is much needed and appreciated.
Mike Kelly Kicks the Cultural Tin
Federal Member for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly was one of the thousands of visitors and locals this year to enjoy „K'Ozzie Fest‟, the Snowy Mountains annual Polish cultural festival. Dr Kelly recognised that the Snowy Mountains is the birthplace of multiculturalism in Australia and that the Polish people have played a significant part. He said “We have created a beautiful patchwork quilt of cultures which has taken a lot of skill and love to create, and it needs our constant attention to nurture and keep our Australian spirit going".
Dr Kelly also noticed (with the help of a certain French lady journalist) that the Jindabyne Memorial Hall has no piano. After listening to superb Polish concert pianist Krzysztof Malek during an impromptu performance held in the foyer of Horizons, Jindabyne, Dr Kelly said that he realised the importance of building on our tradition of classical music in the mountains.
He said "I'd like to throw up a challenge to the people of Jindabyne. I believe we need to raise about $10,000 so I'm prepared to donate $1,000 to get the ball rolling, and if the community can raise the rest of the money, we can bring more great classical music to this area".
Dr Kelly, who donated the $1,000 from his own pocket, says he is very keen to be part of the piano dedication ceremony and would like to see his nephew, Opera Australia tenor Samuel Sakker, being one of the performers to sing at a gala performance to inaugurate the piano in the near future.
The Jindabyne Memorial Hall 355 Committee will discuss the piano at their next meeting, and there are already a number of very keen music lovers, including local music teachers, prepared to help organise the first gala.
Pianist Andrew Farrell of 'Wizard & Oz' fame, is a familiar figure at the Blues & Jazz festivals in Thredbo and said that this will be a valuable addition to Jindabyne's musical facilities. Unlike Thredbo, that has three music festivals, Jindabyne does not yet have a yearly music event and it is hoped that a real grand piano will attract more professional musicians in addition to generating tourism income for the area.
Article from Snowy River Echo, April 2010 issue #68)
International pianist Krzystof Malek performing in the Jindabyne Hall on a keyboard (2007)... |
...and on a concert piano at the Jindabyne Anglican church (2010) |
The Jindabyne Hall stage and proposed location of the piano |
The Jindabyne Hall was transformed for the “Marriage of Figaro” performance on April 6th, 2011 thanks to the clever use and positioning of stage platforms on the floor. The set up still allowed over 240 people to be seated in the hall and enjoy the wonderful performance. |
Greetings from Cootamundra ... town of grand pianos!!!
A Grand Piano for the Cootamundra Arts Centre
The Cootamundra Creative Arts and Cultural Centre is run BY the community, FOR the community.
“The Arts Centre” (TAC) as it is known, has ongoing support from the Cootamundra Shire Council and has received a number of State and Federal arts grants to complete various sections of the project.
A project which began in 2004 with the vision of a local couple to convert a filthy, unused factory (with a great history) into “an artist‟s playing field” … the Cootamundra Creative Arts and Cultural Centre … has been achieved, (although still “a work in progress”) with over 8,000 hrs of volunteer labour and community support.
During this time, the visionaries, Leigh and Isabel Scott, heard about a white “mid-grand” piano for sale. The committee purchased this item and Isabel had the clever idea of “selling keys” to raise much needed funds. Premium keys had a more expensive price tag eg. Middle C. Some supporters of TAC purchased keys which corresponded with their surname (eg. the Guy family purchased 4 “G” keys)
So our beautiful piano took pride of place in the performance space.
We have since attracted a wide range of different musicians because we were able to offer this piano.
Since 2007 we have had performers such as:
International Pianists:
Evgeny Ukhanov, who returned with Alexy Yemtsov to perform “One piano - Four hands”
Roman Rudnytsky
Chamber Orchestras and many more
Yarra Trio from Melbourne... who also conducted children‟s workshops
David Pereira from Canberra - a cellist and leader of quintet comprising piano, cello, violins and viola.
The Wong Family (and their students) - a talented local family who all participate in music in various forms and teach piano, harp, cello and violin.
Janet Seidel - “1st lady of Australian jazz” performing with her quintet.
Wizard and Oz - musicians extraordinaire; piano, vocals, guitar.
“Evening with Friends” - a local group who annually present 3 nights of singing and music accompanied by a pianist on the grand piano.
It is also, just…THERE! … as a wonderful accessory to ANY setting…
Lindsey Baber
Cootamundra
A Grand Piano for Jindabyne
… Well there’s nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear
than to sit in the Jindabyne Hall with no piano to hear”
Please help us achieve our dream of a Grand Piano
for our beautiful town.
Individual community members, groups and organisations - this is your opportunity to purchase piano keys of your choice for $100 and $150 each.
In-kind donations are also sought for our raffle.
As part of our fundraising efforts, you are invited to a Gala Night on July 2nd, starting from 6.30pm at the Jindabyne Hall.
The ‘Festival of Piano’ will showcase the wonderful versatility of the Piano as an instrument, and we are inviting renowned classical,blues and jazz artists to perform on the night. All money raised will go towards the purchase of a Grand Piano for the Jindabyne Memorial Hall.
If you can help with this project which will benefit the whole community for years to come, please contact Antoinette (0428 118 908) or Carole (0412 884 304.
A GRAND PIANO FOR JINDABYNE - PRESENTATION FOLDER
Krzysztof Małek, Art Gallery of NSW, May 2011. Photo B. Filip |
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