Piano gifted to library
Tony and Coral Thiel and the piano they donated with Duncan Mackenzie (left) and Libraries’ Manager Glenn Webster
Performers at Te Kahu o Waipuna have a new digital piano thanks to a generous donation from local music identities Tony and Coral Thiel.
The Thiels wanted music in the new library and art gallery, hence their benevolence.
“The art of performance is to get the reaction from others,” Tony said. “It’s about giving. Music is a great thing, but you have to give. We wanted to slot some music into the overall atmosphere of the new library and art gallery – which feels like it belongs in a city.”
Working with Marlborough Libraries Community Engagement Coordinator, Duncan Mackenzie, the Thiels bought a new Roland FP-30X Digital Piano locally to be gifted to Te Kahu o Waipuna.
“It’s a very generous donation and one in which visiting performers will be very grateful to use,” Duncan said. “I recall a visiting group wheeling a piano down the street from St Andrews Church for their short performance in our atrium,” he said.
In expressing his gratitude to the library for accepting his donation Tony paid tribute to the local community that has been his home for the last 24 years.
“The Marlborough community has been so receptive to musical theatre” he said.
The new piano was used for the first time on last weekend when a specially curated group of Marlborough performers hosted a sing-along of Christmas carols in the atrium at Te Kahu o Waipuna.
