The Piano Dream Becomes Reality
Updated: Nov 2
Dark Peak Music has successfully raised £15,000 for the Victoria Hall Grand Piano
An idea which started as a pipe-dream in January 2025 has become a reality with the arrival of a beautiful Kawai concert grand piano at the Victoria Hall with the help of many donations and large grants from funding bodies, including Foundation Derbyshire and Glossopdale Freemasons.
And we're also pleased to say that our sweet little baby grand has found a home right next door at the community education centre. They were very pleased to have it for their new music room for teenagers.
Dark Peak Music Foundation would like to thank everyone who contributed to the appeal. In addition to private donations we were awarded a generous grant from Foundation Derbyshire and the Glossopdale Freemasons donated £1000 from a fundraising event "A Grand for a Grand". Together with donations from Orchestra of the Peaks and some input from our own reserves we have not only reached but surpassed the target in the space of one and half years.
Nationally acclaimed pianist (our very own) Ben Powell researched the instrument and has found us a top of the range 7-foot Kawai RS-6 which is now in pride of place in the hall.
A lasting asset
The new piano will open the door to chamber concerts, recitals, jazz events, workshops and a host of musical activities for everyone - from professional musicians and students to community groups and local performers.
It will enable the Victoria Hall to achieve its potential as a centre for music and the arts.
The piano will be a shared resource for the whole community, available free of charge to suitable organizations, such as the Glossop Music Festival and Live@Victoria Hall.
Some of the Dark Peak students enjoying taking the piano for a first spin.
Luca and Tom playing a bit of Misty
The Vienna of the North
We're looking forward to bringing you regular musical events ranging from classical recitals to late-night jazz. And to bet the ball rolling we are planning a "Welcome and Thank You" event in January with Ben Powell.
The piano arrives at its new home
The piano has been waiting patiently in a warehouse in the Midlands since the beginning of August awaiting the completion of the decorating in the Victoria Hall. But on Wednesday 21st October we were able to have it delivered:
The next step
We are planning a series of Sunday afternoon soirees featuring some of our local professional musicians.
But before that the instrument needs to "rest" for a few weeks to acclimatise to the atmosphere in the hall - wood changes as it adapts to a different temperature and humidity. Our technician Paul Pickering will then give it a once over, tuning it and re-voicing so it sounds at its best in the acoustic. He will also fit an A-frame to make it easy and safe to move around in the venue.
Sponsors
Everyone who has donated has played a part in making Glossop an even better place for music.
Every donation helped us to get across the line, but w'ed like to give special recognition to those who have made a bigger commitment and to funding organisations who gave us significant grants.
Anyone donating £200 or more will have their name proudly displayed on a brass plaque in the Victoria Hall ... a permanent acknowledgment of their generous sponsorship of music in this town:
The Dark Peak Music Foundation
Orchestra of the Peaks
Buxton International Festival
Foundation Derbyshire
Glossop Music Festival
Glossopdale Freemasons
Councillor Paul Hardy
Councillor Jean Wharmby
The Sweyne Singers - in memory of Peggy Snowdon
Jeff and Maria Snowdon
Clare
Jane Pickford
Tamandra Ford
Victoria Gaffney
Claire Knight
Alan Scholefield
The Evatt Family
Nick Minns and Lesley Mitchell
Rachel and Daniel Whibley
The Blaney Family
Mike Bull
Phil Steadman
Rory Craig
Andrew Knight
Andy Zuntz and Karen Mitchell
Benjamin Powell
HAM
Richard Armitage
Linda Otridge
Sue, Paul, Alfie and Jasmine Barrett
Roger Ellis
Debbie Enever - in memory of Dan Robinson
Everyone who has donated has played a part in making Glossop an even better place for music.
