The campaign for a new grand piano for Shetland took a giant step further this week with the announcement that the Scottish Arts Council Lottery Fund has awarded Shetland Arts Trust £26,850 towards the cost of the instrument.  Pianists and concert-goers alike have experienced years of disappointment and frustration with the present instrument, which is exceptionally difficult to tune, and once tuned, is not able to stay in tune for the duration of a recital.  Some years ago Classic Youth gained a Lottery award for a new instrument, but were obliged to repay the grant when suitable accommodation for the piano could not be found.  Similar challenges beset the current application, but both the Anderson High School and St Columba’s Kirk stepped in with invitations to help out.

“I’d like to thank the Scottish Arts Council Capital Lottery Fund for this generous gift,” said the Arts Trust’s projects manager Kathy Hubbard, “and the SIC’s Community Development Services who also made a contribution to this project.  And we are particularly grateful to both the Anderson High School and to St Columba’s for offering to house the piano, as there simply doesn’t seem to be space to keep it in the Town Hall where most of the classical recitals have been held in the past.”

Mrs Hubbard said that the provision of a Steinway piano would make a tremendous difference to the quality of the experience for audiences and for instrumentalists alike, and that there was a great deal of excitement about the prospect of a new instrument coming to Shetland.  Some aspects of matched funding remain to be finalised before the celebrations can start in earnest, but the Arts Trust is confident that they can be resolved.  “We can’t go ordering the Steinway just yet,” said Mrs Hubbard, “but I have every hope that it will be here before Christmas.”

Iain Munro, Head of Capital at the Scottish Arts Council said “The Scottish Arts Council is delighted to be supporting the purchase of a new grand piano for Shetland. The Arts Trust has an excellent track record in delivering a strong music programme, and a new piano will undoubtedly add to the thriving music scene in the area.  Not only will the piano provide excellent new opportunities for local musicians and audiences, it will play an important role in attracting top quality artists to perform in Shetland.”