Many of you in the community will have seen the grand piano that lives in a small square sealed off space in Lobelco Hall. Certainly it has had an illustrious career being played for musicals, choirs, Festival of the arts, concerts etc. The Arts Council was able to obtain this Yamaha Baby Grand in 1977 and has stored it at Lobelco ever since.
This Fall we arranged for piano Tuner Leila Sumi to tune the instrument, as we have done regularly over the years. To our dismay, Leila found a mouse nest in the piano. Not only that, but the mice had diligently chewed all the felt covered dampers and strike pads to add real comfort to their abode. The piano is unplayable.
Leila did not feel qualified to do the repair work and warned us that it could be very expensive. She did however, help to find someone who could do the job. We pursued this option and have arranged for a piano repair specialist to come up from Vancouver at the beginning of December. It is estimated that the cost for all this will be between $2000 and $3000. However the Arts council decided that having the piano available was important for the community, and purchasing a new piano of this quality was way beyond our means.
The Arts council does need financial help with this expense, and has decided to ask for donations from the community. We have arranged for the Bella Coola Arts Foundation to receive all donations and issue charitable donation tax receipts.
Anyone interested in helping financially with this project can send a cheque or cash to: The Bella Coola Arts Foundation, P.O. Box 70, Bella Coola, B.C. V0T 1C0 with a clear indication that this is for the piano. Alternately envelopes marked PIANO can be left at Kopas Store. Anyone donating cash who wishes a charitable donation receipt needs to include their name and address with the donation.
With some good fortune we are hoping the piano will be in good order in time for the annual Yuletrefest.
