Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2012 | Page 63

SOCIAL SCENE Fund is the key for new piano at Ventnor church The south of the Island now has a splendid piano, thanks to the Ventnor Piano Fund. Other parts of the island were already well equipped with Freshwater having a fine Steinway; All Saints Church in Ryde being well served, while John Power has loaned Northwood House his fine ‘Grand’. “The south was being left behind, but not now - quite the reverse,” said the Fund’s Anthony Churchill. St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor was filled to capacity for the debut of the Fund’s newly-bought Bluthner Grand piano. At the welcome concert, Richard Studt (with his Stradivarius violin) and his wife Delia (piano), with their famous friends Elizabeth Drury (on saxophone, and singing soprano), and Tim Carey (piano), played, and the audience were on their feet. The hope that the piano would be used for many events was fulfilled immediately in the following week’s ‘Music for Fun’ competition and concert, where 75 Island schoolchildren, and choirs, were judged in various musical categories, many playing, or accompanied by the new Bluthner. Anthony Churchill and Tina Hughes The musicians Richard Studt, Tim Carey, Delia Studt, Elizabeth Drury Richard Dickson www.visitislandlife.com 63