A second Steinway for the Primrose Potter Salon.
We are thrilled to announce that we successfully reached our fundraising target of $250,000 to purchase a new Steinway Model C grand piano for the Primrose Potter Salon.
This extraordinary achievement was made possible thanks to the generous philanthropy we received from the 48 donors to the Steinway Giving Circle, a significant grant from Gandel Philanthropy, who provided matched funding of $100,000, and additional gifts from nearly 1,300 other members of our community of supporters.
This inspired philanthropy will have a significant impact on the musical possibilities of the Melbourne Recital Centre. It opens up the Primrose Potter Salon to a wide variety of new repertoire and learning opportunities for local pianists at all career stages.
“We are delighted that Gandel Philanthropy’s leading grant in the form of a $100,000 matched funding partnership, along with the generosity of the Steinway Giving Circle and other donors, has enabled the Melbourne Recital Centre to reach their goal for a second Steinway Model C for the Primrose Potter Salon. Having two Steinways in the Salon will enable hundreds of students to access a concert quality piano for their learning, masterclasses and performances for many years to come.”
– Vedran Drakulic OAM, CEO Gandel Philanthropy.
We were delighted to celebrate the success of this fundraising campaign with a special event for the Steinway Giving Circle in the home of Monica Lim and Konfir Kabo, the new owners of the Centre’s recently retired Steinway Model D, formerly resident in the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall. Guests were treated to an insightful musical presentation by Ronald Farren-Price AM and two of his remarkable young piano students James He and Alex Hazelbank.
“I am delighted to have worked with the Melbourne Recital Centre to obtain the support of a group of committed supporters to enable the acquisition of a Steinway Model C for the Primrose Potter Salon. As one of the MRC’s most heavily used venues, which delivers a wide variety of musical experiences across many genres, it was very important that we have exactly the right Steinway for the room.
With the support of Gandel Philanthropy and many committed donors, we have achieved that goal. Thank you to all who supported.”
– Mrs Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM, Patron of the Steinway Giving Circle.
In September this year, Euan Murdoch will accompany esteemed Australian pianist Piers Lane, and Steinway Master Technician Ulrich Gerhartz, to the Steinway factory in Hamburg to select the perfect new instrument to respond to the unique acoustics of the Primrose Potter Salon.
We look forward to continuing to celebrate the generosity of the Steinway Giving Circle and our wider community of supporters with a special event to welcome our new piano when it arrives here at the Centre in early 2020.
Thank you to all of you who have contributed to this important project in our 10th anniversary year. It is only through the generous philanthropic support that Melbourne Recital Centre receives from committed music lovers in our community that we can continue to create transformative musical experiences for more people in our community.
