By Jim Fagan
Music students at Tewantin Primary have something to sing about. After months of frustrated waiting for a new keyboard, they now have a brand-new Yamaha console digital piano, courtesy of Noosa’s community choir Noosa Chorale.
The choir is celebrating its 25th birthday this year and, according to president, Gai Ramsay, “We wanted to give something back to the community which has been so supportive of us since we were founded in 1994.
“We heard the school needed a new piano and, because our wish is to promote music, especially choir singing, to young people, our singers decided to donate $1500 to buy one.”
The Grade 6 students were making a beautiful job of the Mamas and Papas hit song California Dreaming when Gai and Chorale singers Fran Wilson and Linda Bishop, a former teacher at the school, visited to view the Yamaha.
And, while the students may have been singing about dreaming in California it was clear their music specialist teacher, Geoff Peel, was in his own seventh heaven.
“The last piano we had was an old one we’d had for many years. It died just before the end of last year and, as I have a budget which is pretty-well non-existent, there wasn’t much I could do to replace it.
“Then the Chorale came along with their offer and that was just fantastic. We are very grateful to the Chorale members.”
Geoff said the piano actually cost $1900. “I went to see Tim Lee who owns Music at Noosa and when he heard I was from the school he gave me a $400 discount.”
The piano will be used by both the school’s senior and junior choirs and for piano lessons. It’s very manoeuvrable and we can move it to the concert hall for performances.”
Said Geoff: “My main drive is for kids to have fun with music, to come to the music class and feel they can’t wait to get there. The piano goes a long way to achieving this.”
As part of its silver anniversary celebrations, Noosa Chorale will perform Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi’s famous Requiem at the Noosa Leisure Centre on Sunday May 26. Tickets $25 at www.thej.com.au.
