UPPER HUTT CONCERT GRAND PIANO TRUST

The Whirinaki Trust established a Piano Fundraising Sub-Committee in June 2006. With the support of Patron Michael Houstoun, the committee ran a successful community based fundraising campaign to purchase a concert piano for the theatre. The Whirinaki Trust acted as settler for The Upper Hutt Concert Grand Piano Trust (Piano Trust) which was formed in June 2008 to purchase the piano and to safeguard its lifetime of benefit to the Upper Hutt community.

The Piano Trust was established with the following purposes:

  1. to further the education of music students in Upper Hutt and also within the Wellington Region; and
  2. within Upper Hutt to assist further in the education and understanding of all forms of music that utilize the piano; and
  3. to purchase and maintain a concert grand piano to ensure that the above two objectives can be obtained to the best possible level.

The Upper Hutt Concert Grand Piano Trustees are:

  • Paul Lambert, Chair
  • Clare Derby
  • Peter Richardson
  • Leanne Wickham, Whirinaki Whare Taonga, Director
  • Jim Noice
  • Angela Calkin-Goers

The Piano Trustees can be contacted care of Whirinaki Whare Taonga.

Pianos

The Piano Trust purchased Steinway D 583467 which was delivered to Whirinaki Whare Taonga on 9 September 2008.

A Boston upright practice piano was donated by the Friends of Whirinaki to the Whirianki Trust and delivered in September 2008 for use in the Green Room and the Genesis Energy Theatre.

To complete the piano fit-out for Whirinaki Whare Taonga, the Piano Trust secured sponsorship from Wellington based music retailer Piano House (part of Music Planet) to purchase a Kawai RX2 for the Rotary Foyer which was delivered to Whirinaki Whare Taonga on 20 January 2011.

Who benefits?

  • Concert goers from throughout the region are the major beneficiaries. The Steinway has placed Whirinaki Whare Taonga firmly on the ‘tour managers map’, and gives certainty to the concert programme for many years to come.
  • Acoustic musicians and performers across a range of genre including classical and jazz.
  • Young aspiring concert pianists now have the opportunity to perform not only in a professional venue, but on a professional concert instrument.
  • The city as a whole benefits from our developing reputation for excellence.

How can I help?

We love your donations and your fundraising ideas! Please also support fundraising events by attending and encouraging your friends to join us.

Are donations tax deductible?

Yes. The Upper Hutt Concert Grand Piano Trust is a Registered Charitable Trust and receipts are issued for all donations.

Many thanks to Clare Derby and the Upper Hutt Music Society who made their Bechstein piano available in the Rotary Foyer for our first seven years.  Thanks to this instrument, and to our generous volunteers; Penny Brown, and the late Harry Hazewinkel, we’ve shared many hours of musical enjoyment.

Thank you for joining us to foster musical excellence in our community!