Jazz festival looks for community pianos

As part of its community outreach, the Sisters Jazz Festival (SJF) is looking for at least four good upright pianos that can used at the September festival, then placed in homes in the Sisters area for the remainder of the year.

The new program, Keys for Kids, is intended to assist promising young musicians who might not be able to have a piano in their home, according to SJF Board Chair Tom Worcester.

"We need sturdy, used upright pianos that can withstand multiple moves and years of hard use," Worcester said.

Sisters Jazz Festival will seek the donation of pianos suitable for its performance needs, as well as funds for the purchase of instruments. After the festival, pianos will be placed in homes with a responsible adult or adults and students showing musical aptitude. SJF Board Member Jody Henderson will lead the screening to select deserving families with which to place the pianos.

"As a nonprofit organization, Sisters Jazz Festival can offer a tax receipt for anyone wishing to donate a piano to Keys for Kids," Worcester noted.

SJF is going after foundation grant money as well as looking for local funding sources and donations.

"We intend to get at least four pianos for our venues this year that we can then place in local homes," Worcester said. "But, we won't stop with four if we can get more."

All pianos considered for Keys for Kids will be checked by a piano technician to make sure they are serviceable for the festival's needs and individual family use. A plaque recognizing individual or corporate sponsors will be installed on each piano brought into the program.

For more information, contact Sisters Jazz Festival at 549-1332.